Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ-der.?
Proto-Germanic *stapulaz
Frankish *stapulbor.
Late Latin stapula
Old French estaple
Anglo-Norman staplebor.
Middle English staple
English staple
From Middle English staple, from Anglo-Norman estaple, Old French estaple (“market, (trading) post”), from Late Latin stapula, from Frankish *stapul, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz (“post”), from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“post, stem”). Compare staff. Doublet of étape and etymology 2.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Relating to, or being market of staple for, commodities.
a staple town
(not-comparable) Established in commerce; occupying the markets; settled.
a staple trade
To ruin with worse ware our staple trade 1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number):
(not-comparable) Fit to be sold; marketable.
What needy writer would not solicit to work under such masters, who will pay us beforehand, take off as much of our ware as we please, at our own rates, and trouble not themselves to examine, either before or after they have bought it, whether it be staple, or not. 1714 February, [Jonathan Swift], The Publick Spirit of the Whigs: Set forth in Their Generous Encouragement of the Author of the Crisis: […], London: […] [John Barber] for John Morphew, […], →OCLC:
(not-comparable) Regularly produced or manufactured in large quantities; belonging to wholesale traffic; principal; chief.
wool, the great staple commodity of England 1818, Henry Hallam, View of the state of Europe during the Middle ages:
The pastoral industry, which had weathered the severe depression of the early forties by recourse to boiling down the sheep for their tallow, and was now firmly re-established as the staple industry of the colony, was threatened once more with eclipse. 1929, M. Barnard Eldershaw, A House Is Built, Chapter VIII, Section ii:
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ-der.?
Proto-Germanic *stapulaz
Frankish *stapulbor.
Late Latin stapula
Old French estaple
Anglo-Norman staplebor.
Middle English staple
English staple
From Middle English staple, from Anglo-Norman estaple, Old French estaple (“market, (trading) post”), from Late Latin stapula, from Frankish *stapul, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz (“post”), from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“post, stem”). Compare staff. Doublet of étape and etymology 2.
Meanings
(countable, historical, uncountable) A town containing merchants who have exclusive right, under royal authority, to purchase or produce certain goods for export; also, the body of such merchants seen as a group.
Calais was one of the ‘principal treasures’ of the crown, of both strategic and economic importance. It was home to the staple, the crown-controlled marketplace for England's lucrative textile trade, whose substantial customs and tax revenues flooded into Henry's coffers. 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 73:
For the increase of trade and the encouragement of the worthy burgesses of Woodstock, her majesty was minded to erect the town into a staple for wool. 1821 January 8, [Walter Scott], Kenilworth; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne, […]; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC:
The customs of Alexandria were very great, it having been the staple of the Indian trade. 1727, John Arbuthnot, Tables of Ancient Coins, Weights and Measures. Explain'd and exemplify'd in several dissertations:
(broadly, countable, uncountable) Place of supply; source.
Whitehall naturally became the chief staple of news. Whenever there was a rumour that anything important had happened or was about to happen, people hastened thither to obtain intelligence from the fountain head. 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter III, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) The principal commodity produced in a town or region.
The old staple of coal is a declining traffic; and what remains tends to be hauled a shorter distance, as new power stations are sited closer to coalfields. 1961 October, “Editorial: The importance of the "Roadrailer"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 577:
(countable, uncountable) A basic or essential supply.
Rice is a staple in the diet of many cultures.
(countable, uncountable) A recurring topic, character, or item.
MTV quickly became a staple of pop culture after its launch, and was tied to countless historic moments in music, including the world premiere of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video and the 16-hour broadcast of the Live Aid concerts in 1985. 2026 January 1, Max Pilley, “MTV shuts down final music-only channels with ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’”, in NME:
Lurid stories are a staple of tabloid journalism.
In most countries, rubbish makes headlines only when it is not collected, and stinking sacks lie heaped on the streets. In Britain bins are a front-page staple. 2010, The Economist, Jul-Aug 2010, p. 27:
(countable, uncountable) Short fiber, as of cotton, sheep’s wool, or the like, which can be spun into yarn or thread.
Tow is flax with short staple.
(countable, uncountable) Unmanufactured material; raw material.
cy prif fwyd (basic food) · it alimento base (basic food) · is nauðsynjar (basic or essential supply) · nn basismatvare (basic food) · pl stapel (length of fibers in wool) · sh сѝровина (basic or essential supply) · cs základní potravina (basic food) · is baðmullarþræðir (length of fibers in wool) · is nauðsynjavörur (basic or essential supply) · cmn 主食 (basic food) · fi peruselintarvike (basic food) · sh sìrovina (basic or essential supply) · is uppistöðuefni (basic food) · ga príomh-amhábhar (the principal commodity produced in a town or region) · sh сѝровина (basic food) · ca fonament (basic or essential supply) · is aðalverslunarvara (basic or essential supply) · tr temel besin (basic food) · is aðalframleiðsluvara (basic or essential supply) · is grunnvara (basic or essential supply) · gl especialidade (the principal commodity produced in a town or region) · nl basisbenodigdheid (basic or essential supply) · gl base (basic or essential supply) · de Ausgangsmaterial (basic or essential supply) · is uppistöðumatur (basic food) · ca matèria prima (basic or essential supply) · lt pagrindinis maistas (basic food) · fr production principale (basic or essential supply) · tr başlıca (basic or essential supply) · ga príomhtháirge (the principal commodity produced in a town or region) · fr aliment de base (basic food) · ga amhábhar (basic or essential supply) · es alimento de primera necesidad (basic food) · ko 주식 (basic food) · nl basisvoedsel (basic food) · ga bunábhar (basic or essential supply) · gl fundamento (basic or essential supply) · is ullarþræðir (length of fibers in wool) · is hörtrefjar (length of fibers in wool) · hi प्रमुख खाद्य (basic food) · it materia prima (the principal commodity produced in a town or region) · is hráefni (basic food) · de Grundnahrungsmittel (basic food) · uk сировина́ (basic or essential supply) · es alimento básico (basic food) · pl podstawowy artykuł (basic or essential supply) · sh sìrovina (basic food) · fi tapuli (length of fibers in wool) · is uppistaða (basic food) · de Grundversorgung (basic or essential supply) · kk талғажау (basic food) · pl podstawowe pożywienie (basic food) · cs základní zásoba (basic or essential supply) · tr esas (basic or essential supply) · fi päätuote (the principal commodity produced in a town or region) · tr temel gıda (basic food) · it prodotto di base (basic or essential supply) · fi perustarvike (basic or essential supply) · sv stapelvara (basic or essential supply) · es producto principal (basic or essential supply) · ru основно́й проду́кт пита́ния (basic food)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ-der.?
Proto-Germanic *stapulaz
Frankish *stapulbor.
Late Latin stapula
Old French estaple
Anglo-Norman staplebor.
Middle English staple
English staple
From Middle English staple, from Anglo-Norman estaple, Old French estaple (“market, (trading) post”), from Late Latin stapula, from Frankish *stapul, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz (“post”), from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“post, stem”). Compare staff. Doublet of étape and etymology 2.
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ-der.?
Proto-Germanic *stapulaz
Proto-West Germanic *stapul
Old English stapol
Middle English stapel
English staple
From Middle English stapel (“staple, pillar, post”), from Old English stapol (“post, pillar”), from Proto-West Germanic *stapul, from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz, from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“post, stem”).
See also Old English steppan (“to step”) and Old French estaple (“post”). Consider also stapes (“stirrup”), from Latin. Doublet of étape and etymology 1.
Meanings
Any of several types of fastener comprising a bent piece of wire. ▸ A wire fastener, made of thin wire, used to secure stacks of paper by penetrating all the sheets and curling around.
They stapled the documents with an office stapler, putting a staple in the top left corner of each one.
Any of several types of fastener comprising a bent piece of wire. ▸ A wire fastener, in any of various sizes, used to secure something else by penetrating and curling.
They stapled the housewrap with a staple gun firing large staples.
Any of several types of fastener comprising a bent piece of wire. ▸ A U-shaped wire fastener, made of thick wire, used to attach fence wire or other material to posts or structures.
The rancher used staples to attach the barbed wire to the fence posts.
Esther's wrists were firmly tied, and the twisted rope was fastened to a strong staple in a heavy wooden joist above, near the fire-place. Here she stood, on a bench, her arms tightly drawn over her breast. Her back and shoulders were bare to the waist. 1855, Frederick Douglass, chapter 3, in My Bondage and My Freedom. […], New York; Auburn, N.Y.: Miller, Orton & Mulligan […], →OCLC:
One of a set of U-shaped metal rods hammered into a structure, such as a piling or wharf, which serve as a ladder.
Fortunately, there were staples in the quay wall, and she was able to climb out of the water.
A metal loop used to fasten doors in conjunction with a hasp and a padlock.
A shaft, smaller and shorter than the principal one, joining different levels.
A small pit.
A district granted to an abbey.
[Henry II] also granted liberty of coyning to certain Cities and Abbies, allowing them one staple and two puncheons at a rate, with certain restrictions. 1605, William Camden, “Money”, in Remaines Concerning Britain:
oc croquet (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · ko 스테이플 (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · vi ghim (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · hu kapocs (wire fastener in general) · bg скоба (U-shaped metal fastener) · cmn 訂書釘 /订书钉 (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · nn stift (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · is vírhefti (U-shaped metal fastener) · gv lhoob yiarn (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · gl galga (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · pl klamra (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · oc agrafa (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · hu fémkapocs (wire fastener in general) · is vírhefti (wire fastener in general) · yue 釘書釘 /钉书钉 (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · bg телче (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · nn krampe (U-shaped metal fastener) · fr agrafe (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · mi tēpara (U-shaped metal fastener) · mi tia (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · he סִיכָּה (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · pl klamra (U-shaped metal fastener) · es presilla (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · es grapa (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · is vírhefti (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · es corchete (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · nl kram (U-shaped metal fastener) · ga stápla (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · ro capsă (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · gl grampa (U-shaped metal fastener) · fi paperiniitti (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · sv krampa (U-shaped metal fastener) · km គ្រាប់កិប (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · mi tēpara (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · th ลวดเย็บกระดาษ (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · es grapa (U-shaped metal fastener) · ja ステープル (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · cy stapl (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · mi makatiti (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · fi sinkilä (U-shaped metal fastener) · cy staplen (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · pt grampo (U-shaped metal fastener) · sv klammer (U-shaped metal fastener) · pt grampo (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · mi makatiti (wire fastener in general) · hsb spinka (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · mi makatiti (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · ru скоба́ (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · is kengur (wire fastener in general) · mi tēpara (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · is hefti (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · mi tēpara (wire fastener in general) · hu tűzőkapocs (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · gl grampa (wire fastener in general) · af krammetjie (wire fastener in general) · is kengur (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · pl zszywka (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · nl kram (wire fastener in general) · fi sinkilä (wire fastener in general) · de Heftklammer (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · fi aspi (U-shaped metal fastener) · it graffetta (U-shaped metal fastener) · ru скре́пка (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · tl pikolete (U-shaped metal fastener) · pt agrafo (U-shaped metal fastener) · is hefti (U-shaped metal fastener) · is hefti (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · gl grampa (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · cmn 訂書針 /订书针 (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · fi hakanen (wire fastener in general) · el συνδετήρας (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · nl nietje (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · da hæfteklamme (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · tr tel zımba (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · ca grapa (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · is hefti (wire fastener in general) · es grampa (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · lt sąsagėlė (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · sv häftklammer (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · pl klamra (wire fastener in general) · fi nitomanasta (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · af krammetjie (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · de Krampe (U-shaped metal fastener) · nl haak (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · nl niet (wire fastener in general) · nb krampe (U-shaped metal fastener) · eo agrafo (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · it graffetta (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper) · fi askelma (one of set of rods hammered into structure) · sv klammer (wire fastener in general) · fr agrafe (wire fastener in general)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ-der.?
Proto-Germanic *stapulaz
Proto-West Germanic *stapul
Old English stapol
Middle English stapel
English staple
From Middle English stapel (“staple, pillar, post”), from Old English stapol (“post, pillar”), from Proto-West Germanic *stapul, from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz, from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“post, stem”).
See also Old English steppan (“to step”) and Old French estaple (“post”). Consider also stapes (“stirrup”), from Latin. Doublet of étape and etymology 1.
mi whakapinepine (secure with a staple) · de heften (secure with a staple) · ro capsa (secure with a staple) · ca grapar (secure with a staple) · ca engrapar (secure with a staple) · cmn 釘 /钉 (secure with a staple) · pl zszyć (secure with a staple) · is hefta (secure with a staple) · fi nitoa (secure with a staple) · pt agrafar (secure with a staple) · fr agrafer (secure with a staple) · nn stifta (secure with a staple) · es grapar (secure with a staple) · da hæfte (secure with a staple) · it pinzare (secure with a staple) · nl nieten (secure with a staple) · sv häfta (secure with a staple) · bg забождам с телбод (secure with a staple) · mi makatiti (secure with a staple) · el συρράβω (secure with a staple) · pt grampear (secure with a staple) · ota زنبهلامق (secure with a staple) · tr zımbalamak (secure with a staple) · lt prisegti (secure with a staple) · es engrapar (secure with a staple) · gl grampar (secure with a staple) · km កិប (secure with a staple) · ru скрепля́ть (secure with a staple)