tipstaff

tipstaff
/tip"staf', -stahf'/, n., pl. tipstaves /-stayvz'/, tipstaffs.
1. an attendant or crier in a court of law.
2. a staff tipped with metal, formerly carried as a badge of office, as by a constable.
3. any official who carried such a staff.
[1535-45; shortened form of earlier tipped staff; see TIP1, -ED3, STAFF1]

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tipstaff — Tip staff , n.; pl. {Tipstaff}. 1. A staff tipped with metal. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. An officer who bears a staff tipped with metal; a constable. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tipstaff — Tip staff , n.; pl. {Tipstaff}. 1. A staff tipped with metal. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. An officer who bears a staff tipped with metal; a constable. Macaulay. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tipstaff — (n.) 1540s, tipped staff (truncheon with a tip or cap of metal) carried as an emblem of office, from TIP (Cf. tip) (n.) + STAFF (Cf. staff) (n.). As the name of an official who carries one (esp. a sheriff s officer, bailiff, constable, court… …   Etymology dictionary

  • tipstaff — [tip′staf΄] n. pl. tipstaffs or tipstaves [tip′stāvz΄] 1. a staff with a metal tip, formerly carried as an emblem by certain officials 2. an official who carried such a staff; esp., in England, a bailiff or constable …   English World dictionary

  • Tipstaff — The Tipstaff has two different meanings, both somewhat related.TipstaffThe office of the Tipstaff is thought to be created in the 14th century. One of the earliest records of the Tipstaff was mentioned in 1570: “The Knight Marshall with all hys… …   Wikipedia

  • tipstaff — noun (plural tipstaves) Etymology: obsolete tipstaff staff tipped with metal Date: 1535 a court officer whose duties include assisting the judge and acting as crier …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tipstaff — noun a) A ceremonial staff, with a metal tip, carried by a constable or bailiff etc as a sign of office b) An officer, of a court etc. who carries such a staff …   Wiktionary

  • tipstaff — n. attendant in a court of law …   English contemporary dictionary

  • tipstaff — noun a sheriff s officer; a bailiff. Origin C16 (first denoting a metal tipped staff): contr. of tipped staff (carried by a bailiff) …   English new terms dictionary

  • tipstaff — tip•staff [[t]ˈtɪpˌstæf, ˌstɑf[/t]] n. pl. staves [[t] ˌsteɪvz[/t]] staffs 1) an attendant or crier in a court of law 2) a staff tipped with metal, formerly carried as a badge of office, as by a constable 3) any official who carried such a staff… …   From formal English to slang

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