noun
stave
A narrow length of wood used as a structural piece.
Each oak stave fits tightly against the next in the barrel.
Etymology
Stave developed within the staff word family. It names a narrow structural length of wood, such as one of the pieces forming a barrel.
More examples
- The cooper replaces two cracked staves in the wooden tub.
- Metal hoops hold the barrel's staves together.
- She uses a sturdy wooden stave to support the young tree.
Forms
stave · staves