staff Copy link Outline I. A stick carried in the hand, usu. for support1. băcŭlum, less freq. băcŭlus2. scīpio, ōnis, m. (a s. carried by persons of distinction)3. fustis, is, m. (esp. for beating with)II. Fig.III. Collectively, the officers attached to the commander-in-chief, *qui circa ducem (imperatorem) curant, officio praesunt. (Kr. s. v. Generalstab, gives primi exercitus ducesIV. Also collectively, a body of persons exercising office together • staff: I. A stick carried in the hand, usu. for support: 1. băcŭlum, less freq. băcŭlus: to lean upon a s., baculo incumbere, Ov. F. 1, 177: Liv. Used in describing the augural s. (lituus): Liv. 1, 18. Dimin. bacillum (a little s.), Cic.: Juv. 2. scīpio, ōnis, m. (a s. carried by persons of distinction): an ivory s., s. eburneus, Liv. 5, 41, fin. (carried by M. Papirius, who had obtained a triumph): Val. Max. 4, 4, 5. 3. fustis, is, m. (esp. for beating with): v. cudgel. II. Fig.: support: cŏlŭmen, fulcīmentum, sustentāculum: v. prop. III. Collectively, the officers attached to the commander-in-chief, *qui circa ducem (imperatorem) curant, officio praesunt. (Kr. s. v. Generalstab, gives primi exercitus duces: delecti ordinum militarium: but these exprr. do not at all expr. the Eng.) IV. Also collectively, a body of persons exercising office together: Phr.: an excellent s. of writers, *scriptores et ipsi optimi et quorum bene inter se cohaerent partes.