Staphylinus 
Staphylinus(staf-i-li'nus), M. [NL. (Linnieus, 
17f>H), < Gtr. arafv'/.lvoi;, a kind of insect, < araipiAy, 
a bunch of grapes.] The typical genus of the 
family Sttiplii/linirlsi; formerly corresponding to 
that family in a broad sense. Used with various 
limitations, it is now made type of the restricted family, 
and characterized by having the maxillary palpi with the 
fourth joint equal to or longer than the third, the margi- 
nal lines of the thorax united near the apex, the ligula 
emarginate, the middle coxse slightly separate, and the ab- 
domen narrowed at the tip. The species are numerous, 
and among them are the largest forms in the family. 
Twenty-one are known in America north of Mexico, and 
about 100 in the whole world. 
Staphylion (sta-fil'i-on), n. [NL., < Gr. ara$i>- 
MOV, dim. of araifrv/Ji, the uvula: see staplMjle.] 
The median point of the posterior nasal spine. 
Torok. 
staphylitis (staf-i-li'tis), re. [< stapJiyle, the 
uvula, + -itis."} Uvulitis. 
staphyloma (staf-i-16'ma), . ; pi. staphylomata 
(-ma-ta). [NL., < Gr. "ara$v%u/ui, a defect in 
the eye, < a-rafyvkii, a bunch of grapes.] A name 
given to certain local bulgings of the eyeball. 
Staphyloma corneas, a protrusion involving more or 
less of the corneae, such as may result from preceding ul- 
ceration. Also called anterior staphyloma. Staphyloma 
corneae pellucidum, conical cornea. Also called staphy- 
loma pellucidum. Staphyloma postlcum, posterior 
staphyloma ; sclerochoroiditis in the back part of the eye, 
resulting in a thinning of the coats and consequent bulg- 
ing and progressive myopia. 
staphylomatic (staf i-lo-mat'ik), a. [< stanhy- 
loma(t-) + -j'e.] Characterized or affected by 
staphyloma. 
staphylomatous (staf-i-lom'a-tus), a. [< sta- 
phyloma(t-) + -ous.'] Pertaining to or of the 
nature of staphyloma. 
staphyloplasty (staf'i-lo-plas*ti), n. [< Gr. 
ara^vM/, the uvula, + irUaaeiv, form, shape: 
see plastic."] In surg., an operation for restor- 
ing the soft palate when it is defective. 
staphylorrhaphy (staf-i-lor'a-fi), . [< Gr. ora- 
0iM,#, the uvula, + paipt/, a sewing.] In surg., 
the plastic operation for cleft palate, consist- 
ing in uniting the mucous membrane across 
the cleft. Also called cionorrhaphia, palator- 
rhaphy. 
staphylotome (staf'i-lo-tom), . [< Gr. arafv- 
Aor6/iov, a knife for excising the uvula, < ara^vA-ri, 
the uvula, + rifiveiv, ra^clv, cut.] In sttrg., a 
knife for operating upon the uvula orthepalate. 
staphylotomy (staf-i-lot'o-mi), n. [< GT.*ora<t>v- 
toTotua, the excision of the uvula, < ara^v^.j/, the 
uvula, + -rofjia, < re/iveiv, rafielv, cut: see -tomy.~\ 
In surg. . amputation of the uvula. 
staple 1 (sta'pl), n. [< ME. stapel, stapil, sta- 
pylle, stapul, < AS. stapel, stapol, stapul, a prop, 
post (= OS. stapal = OFries. stapul, stapel = 
MD. stapel, D. stapel, a prop, foot-rest, a seat, 
pile, heap, = MLG. LG. stapel (> G. stapel), a 
pile, staple, stocks, = OHG. staffal, stapJial, 
MHG. staffel stapfel, G. staffel, a step, = Sw. 
stapel, a pile, heap, stocks, = Dan. stabel, a pile, 
stack, stocks (on which a ship is built), hinge), 
< stapatt, step: see step. Of. staple^.'} If. A 
post ; a prop ; a support. 
5904 
king's staple was established in certain ports or towns, 
and certain goods could not be exported without being 
first brought to these ports to be rated and charged with 
the duty payable to the king or the public. The principal 
commodities on which customs were levied were woo], 
skins, and leather, and these were originally the staple 
commodities. 
The first ordination of a Staple, or of one onely setled 
Mart towne for the vttering of English woolls & woollen 
fells, instituted by the sayd K. Edward. 
llakluyt's Vuyayes, To the Reader. 
Hence 2. A general market or exchange. 
Tho. sir, a Staple of News ! or the New Staple, which 
you please. 
P. Jun. What 's that? 
Fash. An office, sir, a brave young office set up. ... 
P. Jun. For what? 
Tho. To enter all the News, sir. of the time. 
Fash. And vent it as occasion serves. 
B. Jonson, Staple of News, i. 1. 
3. A commercial monopoly formed by a com- 
bination of merchants acting under the sanc- 
tion of the royal privilege of fairs and markets. 
Foreign staple was the system of trade carried on by this 
monopoly on the continent ; home staple was the business 
organized by it in leading towns in England. 
Their ayme in this edict is, if possible, to draw for the 
loue of currents the staple of diuers merchandise to that 
citty. Sir Thomas Roe, Negotiations (London, 1740). 
4. The principal commodity grown or manu- 
factured in a locality, either for exportation or 
home consumption that is, originally, the mer- 
chandise which was sold at a staple or mart. 
The prices of bread-stuffs and provisions, the staples of 
the North, and of cotton and tobacco, the staples of the 
South, were high, not only absolutely, but relatively. 
Taussig, Tariff History, p. 19. 
5 . The principal element of or ingredient in any- 
thing; the chief constituent; the chief item. 
He has two very great faults, which are the staple of his 
bad side. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, vi. 
Politics, theology, history, education, public improve- 
ments, personal matters, are conversational staple*. 
Harper's Mag., LXXX. 466. 
6. The material or substance of anything ; raw 
or unmanufactured material. 7. The fiber of 
any material used for spinning, used in a gen- 
eral sense and as expressive of the character 
of the material: as, wool of short staple; cot- 
ton of long staple, etcCorrector of the staplet. 
See corrector. Merchant of the staplet. SeemrcAan<. 
Ordinance of Staple. Same as Statute of Staple. Sta- 
ple of land, the particular nature and quality of land. 
Statute of Staple, or Ordinance of Staple, an English 
statute of 1853 (27 Edw. III., st. 2), recognizing the ancient 
custom of staple, and confirming the rights and privileges 
of merchants under it Statute staple. See statute. 
II. a. 1. Pertaining to or being a mart or 
staple for commodities : as, a staple town. 
Flanders is Staple, as men tell mee, 
To all nations of Christlanitle. 
HaMuyt't Voyages, 1. 189. 
2. Mainly occupying commercial enterprise ; 
established in commerce: as, a staple trade. 
3. According to the laws of commerce ; mar- 
ketable; fit to be sold. 
Will take off their ware at their own rates, and trouble 
not themselves to examine whether it be staple or no. 
4. Chief ; principal ; regularly produced or 
made for market : as, staple commodities. 
The Sevyn Sages, 201. (HaUiweU.) staple 2 (sta'pl)', r. ; pret. and pp. stapled, ppr. 
i _ i ------ :_ i <- j " 
Under ech stapel of his bed, 
That he niste, four thai hid. 
2. A loop of metal, or a bar or wire bent and 
formed with two points, to be driven into wood 
to hold a hook, pin, or bolt. 
Massy staples, 
And corresponsive and fulfilling bolts. 
Shot., T. and C., Prol., 1. 17. 
3. In founding, a piece of nail-iron with a flat 
disk riveted to the head, and pointed below, 
used in a mold to hold a core in position. E. H. 
Knight. 4. Of a lock, same as 6oz 2 , 13. 5. l n 
musical instruments of the oboe class, the me- 
stapling. [< staple^, n."] I. intrans. To erect 
a staple ; form a monopoly of production and 
sale; establish a mart for such purpose. 
Hakluyfs Voyages, I. 437. [Bare.] 
II. trans. 1. To furnish or provide with a 
staple or staples. 
Fleeces stapled with such wool 
As Lemnster cannot yield more finer stuff. 
Oreene, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. 
2. To sort or classify according to the length 
of the fiber : as, to staple wool. 
tallic tube to which the reeds are fastened, and staple-house (sta'pl-hous), n. [MD. stapel- 
through which the tone is conveyed from them liuys; as staple 1 * + house 1 .'] A warehouse where 
into the wooden body of the instrument. 6. commodities chargeable with export duties were 
In coal-mining, a shallow shaft within a mine, stored. See staple^, n., 1. 
In their large staple-house on the Thames . . . were 
stored the collections of raw produce wool, tin, and 
hides the chief of them which England sent away to 
foreign countries. F. Martin, Hist, of Lloyd's, p. 2. 
[North . Eng.]_ seizin by hasp and staple. See hasp. 
Staple of a press, the frame or uprights of a hand 
printing-press. C. T. Jacobi, Printers' Vocab. 
Staple 1 (sta'pl), v. t. ; pret. and pp. stapled, ppr. 
stapling. [< staple^, .] To support, attach, or staple-punch (sta'pl-punch), n. A bifurcated 
hx by means of a staple or staples. Elect. Rev., punch used for pricking holes in blind-slats 
* v {- and rods for the reception of staples. 
Staple/ (sta pi), n. and a. [Early mod. E. sta- stapler (sta'pler), n. [< staple* + -erl.] If A 
ple;<OF.estapJe,estape,F.etape(ML.stapula), merchant of the staple; a monopolist. See 
a market, store, store-house, = G. stapel (Sw. ' ' " " 
stapel, Dan. stabel, in comp.), < MD. stapel = 
MLG. LG. stapel, a market, emporium, appar. 
a particular use of stapel, a pile, heap : see sta- 
ple 1 .'] I. TO. 1. A settled mart or market; an 
emporium; a town where certain commodities 
are chiefly taken for sale. In England, formerly, the 
staple^, 3. 
You merchants were wont to be merchant staplers. 
Middleton, Family of Love, I. 3. 
2. One employed in assorting wool according 
to its staple. 
Mr. Glegg retired from active business as a vfool-stapler 
George Eliot, Mill on the Floss, i. 12. 
star 
staple-right (sta'pl-rit), . A right, possessed 
by municipalities of the Netherlands, and 
thence introduced into the New Netherlands 
(New York), of compelling passing vessels 
either to stop and offer their merchandise for 
sale rirst of all in the market-place of the town, 
or to pay a duty. 
Star 1 (star), n. [() < ME. starre, stem, storre, 
sti'Oi-i-c (pi. stums, .tti-rn-x, xlfiirr,*. tttrrri'ii, steor- 
ri-n), < AS. steorra = OS. sterro = OFries. stem 
= MD. stem; .i/nrrc, I), sttr, xtitr = MLG. ntcrre 
= OHG. sterro, MHG. stem; a star; with for- 
mative -ra (perhaps orig. -na, -r-na being as- 
similated to -r-ra, the word being then orig. ult. 
identical with the next), (ft) E. dial, stum, 
stern, < ME. stern, sli-riu- (perhaps < Scand.) = 
MD. stcrne = ML(i. steme, stern, LG. stecni = 
OHG. sterna, MHG. sterne (also OHG. MHG. 
stern), G. stern, < Icel. stjarna = Sw. stjerna = 
Dan. stjerne = Goth. stairno, a star; with a for- 
mative -na, -no (seen also in the orig. forms of 
sun and moon), from a base *ster; cf. L. Stella 
(for *stentla) (> It. Stella = Sp. Pg. estrella = 
OF. estoile, F. etoile), star, = Gr. aari'/p (aarep-), 
a star, lurrpov (> L. astrutn), usually in pi. aarpa, 
the stars (with prothe*tic a-), = Corn. Bret, ste- 
ren = W. seren (for 'sterenj = Skt. tdrd (for 
'stara), a star, star, pi., the stars. = Zend star, 
star; root unknown. If, as has been often con- 
jectured, star has aconnectiou with -\fstur, strew, 
it must be rather as strown ' or ' sprinkled ' over 
the sky than as 'sprinkler' of light.] 1. Any 
celestial body which appears as a luminous 
point. In ordinary modern language star is frequently 
limited to mean a fixed star (see below). In astrology the 
stare, especially the planets, are supposed to exercise an 
influence upon human destinies. 
Hise eyen twynkled In his heed aryght, 
As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght. 
Chaucer, Gen. Prol. to C. T., 1. 268. 
There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in 
the stars. Luke xxi. 25. 
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 
But in ourselves, that we are underlings. 
Shale., J. C., 1. 2. 140. 
You are, thanks to your stars, in mighty credit 
Dekker, Gull's Hornbook, p. 114. 
Hence 2. Destiny. [Bare.] 
I was not born unto riches, neither is it, I think, my 
star to be wealthy. Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, ii. 13. 
3. Anything which resembles a star. 
His charger trampling many a prickly star 
Of sprouted thistle on the broken stones. 
Tennyson, Geraint. 
Specifically (a) A star-shaped figure made of silver, gold, 
or both, sometimes set with jewels, worn usually upon the 
breast as one of the insignia of a higher class of an hon- 
orary order. See insignia, and cuts under bath, garter, 
and Order of St. Michael (under order). 
While peers, and dukes, and all their sweeping train, 
And garters, stars, and coronets appear. 
Pope, R. of the L., i. 85. 
(6) The asterisk (*). See asterisk, (c) In pyrotechny, a 
small piece of inflammable composition, which burns high 
in air with a colored flame, and presents the appearance 
of a star, (d) A group of cracks or flaws radiating from a 
center. 
Three times slipping from the outer edge, 
I bump'd the ice into three several stars. 
Tennyson, The Epic. 
(e) A spot of white or light color on the forehead of an 
animal. 
Onward, caballito mio, 
With the white star in thy forehead ! 
Longfellow, Spanish Student, iii. 6. 
(/) In zoo/. : (1) A star-animal ; a starfish, or other echino- 
denn of obviously radiate figure, as a brittle-star, feather- 
star, lily-star, sand-star, or sun-star. See the compounds. 
(2) A stellate sponge-spicule ; an aster, (g) In a copper- 
plate or lithographic printing-press, the radial spokes on 
the roller, which serve as handles. E. H. Knight. 
4. Figuratively, a person of brilliant or attrac- 
tive qualities; one who shines preeminently; 
specifically, the chief and preeminent actor or 
actress of a dramatic or operatic company. 
Sole star of all that place and time, 
I saw him in his golden prime, 
The Good Haroun Alraschid. 
Tennyson, Arabian Nights. 
If I were now to receive a message from the planet Mars 
offering me a star engagement, I could not be more aston- 
ished than I was on that day. J. Jefferson, Autobiog., ill. 
5. In her., s&me as estoile. 6. In fort., a small 
fort having five or more points, or salient and 
reentering angles flanking one another. Also 
called star-fort. 7. An additional life bought 
by a player in the game of pool. [Eng.] 
Only one star is allowed in a pool ; and when there re 
only two players left in, no star can be purchased. 
Encye. Brit., III. 077. 
Aberration of a star. See aberration, 5. Apparent 
place of a star. See apparent. Binary star. See 
multiple star. Blazing Star. See blazing-star and Ale- 
tris. Circumpolar star. See circumpolar. Comple- 
ment of a star. See complement. Diurnal accelera- 
