Chapter Spring Gardens to Stagirite of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Staff I keep the staff in my own hand. I keep possession; I retain the right. The staff was the ancient sceptre, and therefore, figuratively, it means, power, authority, dignity, etc.
   To part with the staff. To lose or give up office or possession. (See above.

“Give up your staff, sir, and the king his realm.”
Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI., ii. 3.

   To put down one's staff in a place. To take up one's residence. The allusion is to the tent-staff: where the staff is placed, there the tent is stretched, and the nomad resides.
   To strike my staff. To lodge for the time being.

“Thou mayst see me at thy pleasure, for I intend to strike my staff at yonder hostelry.”- Cæsar Borgia, x v.

Staff of Life (The). Bread, which is the support of life. Shakespeare says, “The boy was the very staff of my age.” The allusion is to a staff which supports the feeble in walking.

Stafford He has had a treat in Stafford Court. He has been thoroughly cudgelled. Of course the pun is on the word staff, a stick. The French have a similar phrase- “It a esté au festin de Martin Baston. ” (He has been to Jack Drum's entertainment).

Stafford Law Club law. A beating. The pun is on the word staff, a stick. (Italian, Braccésca licenza.) (Florio, p. 66.) (See above.)

Stag The reason why a stag symbolises Christ is from the superstition that it draws serpents by its breath from their holes, and then tramples them to death. (See Pliny: Nat. Hist., viii. 50.)
   Stag in Christian art. The attribute of St. Julian Hospitaller, St. Felix of Valois, and St. Aidan. When it has a crucifix between its horns it alludes to the legendary tale of St. Hubert. When luminous it belongs to St. Eustachius.

Stags, in Stock Exchange phraseology, are persons who apply for the allotment of shares in a joint- stock company, not because they wish to hold the shares, but because they hope to sell the allotment at a premium. If they fail in this they forbear to pay the deposit and the allotment is forfeited. (See Bear, Bull .)

Stagirite or Stagyrite (3 syl.). (Greek, atageiroV.) Aristotle, who was born at Stagira, in Macedon. Generally called Stagirite in English verse.

“In one rich soul
Plato the Stagyrite, and Tully joined.”
Thomson: Summer

“And rules as strict his laboured work confine
As if the Stagirite o'erlooked each line.”
Pope: Essay on Criticism.

“And all the wisdom of the Stagirite.
Enriched and beautified his studious mind”
Wordsworth.