Gibstaff

/ˈɡɪbstæf/ noun

Definition

A staff or cudgel, possibly used historically as a weapon or walking implement.

Etymology

From Middle English gib (a castrated cat, or a hooked fastening) combined with staff (a long wooden stick). The exact historical use is unclear, but it likely referred to a tool with a hook or projection.

Kelly Says

This word is fascinating because it's almost completely forgotten now—it appears in historical texts but nowhere in modern English, making it a perfect example of how tools and their names disappear when they're no longer needed.

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