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stave

1. One of a number of narrow strips of wood, or narrow iron plates, placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a vessel or structure; especially, one of the strips which form the sides of a cask, a pail, etc.

2. One of the cylindrical bars of a lantern wheel; one of the bars or rounds of a rack, a ladder, etc.

3. A metrical portion; a stanza; a staff. Let us chant a passing stave In honor of that hero brave. (Wordsworth)

4. The five horizontal and parallel lines on and between which musical notes are written or pointed; the staff. Stave jointer, a machine for dressing the edges of staves.

Origin: From Staff, and corresponding to the pl. Staves. See Staff.