- Jacob's staff
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pl. Jacob's staves.1. Astron. cross-staff.2. Survey. a pole providing a firm support for a compass or other instrument.[1540-50]
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Jacob's staff
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Jacob's staff — with four transom For the plant known as the ocotillo, sometimes called the Jacob s staff, see ocotillo. The Jacob s staff, also called a cross staff, a ballastella, a fore staff, or a balestilha is used to refer to several things. This can lead… … Wikipedia
Jacob's staff — Jacob Ja cob, n. [Cf. F. Jacob. See 2d {Jack}.] A Hebrew patriarch (son of Isaac, and ancestor of the Jews), who in a vision saw a ladder reaching up to heaven ( Gen. xxviii. 12); also called {Israel}. [1913 Webster] And Jacob said . . . with my… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Jacob's staff — Staff Staff (st[.a]f), n.; pl. {Staves} (st[=a]vz or st[aum]vz; 277) or {Staffs} (st[.a]fs) in senses 1 9, {Staffs} in senses 10, 11. [AS. st[ae]f a staff; akin to LG. & D. staf, OFries. stef, G. stab, Icel. stafr, Sw. staf, Dan. stav, Goth.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
jacob's-staff — ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ noun (plural jacob s staffs) Usage: usually capitalized J Etymology: Jacob s staff (pilgrim s staff) 1. : great mullein 2. : a plant of the genus Fouquieria … Useful english dictionary
Jacob's staff — noun a rod with a sliding cursor formerly used for measuring distances and heights. Origin C16 (denoting a pilgrim s staff): alluding to St James (Jacobus in eccles. L.), whose symbols are a pilgrim s staff and a scallop shell … English new terms dictionary
Jacob's staff — n. 1 a surveyor s iron shod rod used instead of a tripod. 2 an instrument for measuring distances and heights. Etymology: f. the staffs used by Jacob, as described in Gen. 30:37 43 … Useful english dictionary
Jacob's staff — /dʒeɪkəbz ˈstaf/ (say jaykuhbz stahf) noun an instrument of ancient origin which has been used for many different purposes such as estimating latitude in navigation, making certain angular measurements in surveying, etc …
Jacob — Ja cob, n. [Cf. F. Jacob. See 2d {Jack}.] A Hebrew patriarch (son of Isaac, and ancestor of the Jews), who in a vision saw a ladder reaching up to heaven ( Gen. xxviii. 12); also called {Israel}. [1913 Webster] And Jacob said . . . with my staff… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Jacob's ladder — Jacob Ja cob, n. [Cf. F. Jacob. See 2d {Jack}.] A Hebrew patriarch (son of Isaac, and ancestor of the Jews), who in a vision saw a ladder reaching up to heaven ( Gen. xxviii. 12); also called {Israel}. [1913 Webster] And Jacob said . . . with my… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Jacob's membrane — Jacob Ja cob, n. [Cf. F. Jacob. See 2d {Jack}.] A Hebrew patriarch (son of Isaac, and ancestor of the Jews), who in a vision saw a ladder reaching up to heaven ( Gen. xxviii. 12); also called {Israel}. [1913 Webster] And Jacob said . . . with my… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
