vine staff
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See also: vine-staff
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Calque of Latin vītis (“vine; vine staff”).
Noun[edit]
vine staff (plural vine staffs or vine staves)
- (historical) A cane originally made of twisted grapevine trimmings and used by Roman centurions to beat the soldiers under their command; the various mushroom-headed batons later borne by them as a mark of office