Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Staff \Staff\, n.; pl. {Staves} (? or ?; 277) or {Staffs}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. stabs element, rudiment, Skr.
   sth[=a]pay to cause to stand, to place. See {Stand}, and cf.
   {Stab}, {Stave}, n.]
   1. A long piece of wood; a stick; the long handle of an
      instrument or weapon; a pole or srick, used for many
      purposes; as, a surveyor's staff; the staff of a spear or
      pike.

            And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of
            the altar to bear it withal.          --Ex. xxxviii.
                                                  7.

            With forks and staves the felon to pursue. --Dryden.

   2. A stick carried in the hand for support or defense by a
      person walking; hence, a support; that which props or
      upholds. ``Hooked staves.'' --Piers Plowman.

            The boy was the very staff of my age. --Shak.

            He spoke of it [beer] in ``The Earnest Cry,'' and
            likewise in the ``Scotch Drink,'' as one of the
            staffs of life which had been struck from the poor
            man's hand.                           --Prof.
                                                  Wilson.

   3. A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a
      badge of office; as, a constable's staff.

            Methought this staff, mine office badge in court,
            Was broke in twain.                   --Shak.

            All his officers brake their staves; but at their
            return new staves were delivered unto them.
                                                  --Hayward.

   4. A pole upon which a flag is supported and displayed.

   5. The round of a ladder. [R.]

            I ascend at one [ladder] of six hundred and
            thirty-nine staves.                   --Dr. J.
                                                  Campbell (E.
                                                  Brown's
                                                  Travels).

   6. A series of verses so disposed that, when it is concluded,
      the same order begins again; a stanza; a stave.

            Cowley found out that no kind of staff is proper for
            an heroic poem, as being all too lyrical. --Dryden.

   7. (Mus.) The five lines and the spaces on which music is
      written; -- formerly called stave.

   8. (Mech.) An arbor, as of a wheel or a pinion of a watch.

   9. (Surg.) The grooved director for the gorget, or knife,
      used in cutting for stone in the bladder.

   10. [From {Staff}, 3, a badge of office.] (Mil.) An
       establishment of officers in various departments attached
       to an army, to a section of an army, or to the commander
       of an army. The general's staff consists of those
       officers about his person who are employed in carrying
       his commands into execution. See {['E]tat Major}.

   11. Hence: A body of assistants serving to carry into effect
       the plans of a superintendant or manager; as, the staff
       of a newspaper.

   {Jacob's staff} (Surv.), a single straight rod or staff,
      pointed and iron-shod at the bottom, for penetrating the
      ground, and having a socket joint at the top, used,
      instead of a tripod, for supporting a compass.

   {Staff angle} (Arch.), a square rod of wood standing flush
      with the wall on each of its sides, at the external angles
      of plastering, to prevent their being damaged.

   {The staff of life}, bread. ``Bread is the staff of life.''
      --Swift.

   {Staff tree} (Bot.), any plant of the genus {Celastrus},
      mostly climbing shrubs of the northern hemisphere. The
      American species ({C. scandens}) is commonly called
      {bittersweet}. See 2d {Bittersweet}, 3
       (b) .

   {To set}, or {To put}, {up, or down}, {one's staff}, to take
      up one's residence; to lodge. [Obs.]

Source : WordNet®

staff tree
     n : any small tree or twining shrub of the genus Celastrus