Dictionary![]() ![]() cross-staffPronunciation: (krôs'staf", -stäf", kros'-), [key] —n., —pl. -staffs, -staves. Astron. an instrument for measuring the angle of elevation of heavenly bodies, consisting of a calibrated staff with another shorter staff perpendicular to and sliding on it. Also called forestaff, Jacob's staff. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
|