quarterstaff

noun

quar·ter·staff ˈkwȯ(r)-tər-ˌstaf

plural quarterstaves ˈkwȯ(r)-tər-ˌstavz

-ˌstāvz

: a long stout staff formerly used as a weapon and wielded with one hand in the middle and the other between the middle and the end

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of quarterstaff was circa 1550

See more words from the same year

Style

“Quarterstaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quarterstaff. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

quarterstaff

noun

quar·ter·staff ˈkwȯ(r)t-ər-ˌstaf

plural quarterstaves -ˌstavz

-ˌstāvz

: a long strong staff used long ago as a weapon

Get Word of the Day daily email!