staff

staff, mixture of plaster and fibre

“Le staff apparaît grâce au Français Mézier qui vers 1850 a l'idée de réaliser une première corniche préfabriquée armée d'une toile de jute. Dès lors l'emploi du staff se développe rapidement jusqu'à atteindre son apogée à la belle époque.” — Staff was invented by a Frenchman named Mézier, who around 1850 had the idea to make the first prefabricated cornice using hessian. From then on the use of staff grew rapidly before reaching its peak during the Belle Époque.

Related: staffer, staffeur

19th century. Obscure, possibly from German staffieren or Old French estofer (modern French étoffer)

staff, employees of a business; governing body (army, corporation, administration, etc.)

“les membres du staff” — the members of staff

20th century. From English staff.