Wort des Tages
22 May 2026
Jacob's staff
nounVermessung
A single straight rod or staff, pointed and iron-shod at the bottom, for penetrating the ground, and having a socket joint at the top, used, instead of a tripod, for supporting a compass.
Warum dieses Wort
The name travelled: an older astronomical cross staff carried it too, both echoing the pilgrim's staff. A single shod leg trades the tripod's stability for speed in brush and soft ground, so the compass is only as steady as the hand on the rod.
In use
Leave the tripod in the truck for this line, it's all briar; bring the Jacob's staff and we'll shoot the bearings off that.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.