Definition of: stave

(stāv) noun
1. A curved strip of wood, forming a part of the sides of a barrel, tub, or the like; hence, any narrow strip of material used for a like purpose: iron staves.
2. A straight board forming part of a curb, as about a well.
3. Music A staff.
4. A stanza; verse.
5. A rod, cudgel, or staff.
6. A rung of a rack or ladder.
—v. staved or stove, stav·ing v.t.
1. To break in the staves or strakes of (a cask or a boat); crush the shell or surface of; smash.
2. To make (a hole) by crushing or collision.
3. To furnish with staves.
4. To ward off, as with a staff; keep at a distance: usually with off: to stave off hunger.
—v.i.
5. To be broken in, as a vessel's hull. [Back formation <staves, plural of STAFF]