stave

noun

• 1a vertical wooden post or plank in a building or other structure.
• any of the lengths of wood attached side by side to make a barrel, bucket, or other container.
• a strong wooden stick or iron pole used as a weapon.

• 2 Musicanother term for staff¹ (sense 4 of the noun).

• 3a verse or stanza of a poem.

verb

• 1 (past and past participle staved or stove /stōv/) (stave something in) break something by forcing it inward or piercing it roughly:the door was staved in

• 2 (past and past participle staved) (stave something off) avert or delay something bad or dangerous:a reassuring presence can stave off a panic attack