A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Handstaf(f, n. [ME. hand-staf (15th c.).] a. The handle of a flail. b. The name of some asterism, ‘supposed to be Orion's sword’ (J). —1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 153.
The elwand, the elementis, and Arthurus hufe, The horn and the hand staf a1605 Montg. Flyt. 419 (Harl.).
Be … the charlewaine, Be the hornes, the handstaffe and the kinges ell —1608 in Calderwood VI. 744.
In the which demonstrations, the midd couple will never hold fast the souple to the handstaffe
