tipstaff

[ tip-staf, -stahf ]

noun

, plural tip·staves [tip, -steyvz], tip·staffs.

1. an attendant or crier in a court of law.
2. a staff tipped with metal, formerly carried as a badge of office, as by a constable.
3. any official who carried such a staff.

tipstaff

/ ˈtɪpˌstɑːf /

noun

1. a court official having miscellaneous duties, mostly concerned with the maintenance of order in court
2. a metal-tipped staff formerly used as a symbol of office

Word History and Origins

Origin of tipstaff¹

1535–45; shortened form of earlier tipped staff; tip ¹, -ed ³, staff ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tipstaff¹

C16 tipped staff; see tip ¹, staff ¹

Example Sentences

Preceded by his tipstaff wearing a black frock coat and carrying a white staff topped with an elaborate gold crown, in came the judge.

From The Guardian

The 16-year-old's sisters have also been ordered to surrender passports to the tipstaff, an officer of the court.

From BBC

"Are you, then, a tipstaff, or a bailiff, or a turnkey?" demanded the gipsy, "that you should pursue me, as if the warrant were placed in your hands for execution!"

From Project Gutenberg

“Then, sir,” said the tipstaff, “I must arrest you.”

From Project Gutenberg

The tipstaff being ordered to take those who hissed into custody, replied: "My lord, they 're all hissing."

From Project Gutenberg