To walk or move unsteadily as if about to fall; to arrange events or objects at different times or positions.
From Old Norse stakra (to push, stagger), related to stake. The meaning evolved from physical unsteadiness to arranging things in an offset pattern.
The word 'stagger' perfectly captures both physical and temporal displacement - whether describing a drunk person's gait or a work schedule designed to avoid crowding, it's all about things being beautifully off-balance.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.