What does stave mean?
Stave is a word with two quite different centers of use. As a verb, usually in “stave off,” it means to ward off, postpone, or prevent an impending problem. To stave off a shortage is to delay dealing with it; to stave off disaster may mean to prevent it altogether. As a noun, a stave is a line or staff used for writing musical notes, or one of the narrow vertical wooden strips that form the side of a barrel. The word also has an older, literary sense meaning a staff or rod. Although “staff” is more usual in ordinary musical language, “stave” remains common in British usage and in formal discussion of notation. The compact expression “stave off” gives the word a practical, slightly emphatic tone: it suggests actively holding back a danger rather than merely encountering it. The noun can evoke craftsmanship and musical order, while the verb suggests control under pressure.
A stave is the five-line framework on which musical notes are written, one of the narrow vertical wooden pieces that form a barrel or similar vessel, or, in older usage, a staff, rod, or supporting bar.
"The musician traced the rising notes on the stave before turning the page."
The musical sense is more frequent in British English than in American English, where “staff” is preferred.
To stave something off is to ward it off, postpone it, or prevent it from taking effect.
"The emergency grant helped stave off the closure of several small hospitals."
This verb is almost always used in the expression “stave off” and can imply either temporary delay or complete prevention.
The standard plural is “staves,” not “staveses” or “stavies.”
"The cooper replaced the damaged staves before filling the cask."
A stave can help make a barrel, carry a tune, or keep trouble at bay.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stave come from?
Stave descends from Old English stæfe, meaning “staff” or “stave,” through Proto-Germanic *staba; related English cognates include staff, staple, and stub. Its musical sense developed from the older idea of a staff supporting or carrying written notes. The expression “stave off” appeared in the early nineteenth century as an alteration of “staff off,” meaning to keep something at a distance or delay it.
Related word forms
How stave is actually used
The musical sense is especially associated with British English, although it is understood in American English; American speakers more commonly use “staff” for musical notation. As a verb, “stave off” can mean either to postpone something temporarily or to keep it from happening.
Easily confused with stave
A stave is a particular five-line framework for musical notation, whereas staff can refer to that framework, a group of employees, or a pole.