Noun

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; esp., one of the strips which form the sides of a cask, a pail, etc.
2. One of the bars or rounds of a rack, a ladder, etc; one of the cylindrical bars of a lantern wheel
3. A metrical portion; a stanza; a staff.
4. The five horizontal and parallel lines on and between which musical notes are written or pointed; the staff.

Verb

1. To break in the staves of; to break a hole in; to burst. Often with in.
2. To push, as with a staff. With off.
3. To delay by force; to drive away. Often with off.
4. To burst in pieces by striking against something.