staff
Translation
staff, personnel, stick
Examples
The hotel staff are very friendly.
The hotel staff are very friendly.
He is a member of the teaching staff.
He is a member of the teaching staff.
The wizard held a long wooden staff.
The wizard held a long wooden staff.
Grammar Patterns
the staff are/is the group of employees The hotel staff are very friendly.
a member of staff an employee He is a member of the teaching staff.
Similar Words
(employees) personnel, crew, team; (stick) rod, pole, cane
Etymology
From Old English 'stæf' meaning 'stick, pole'. The sense of 'body of assistants' comes from the staff as a symbol of office.
Memory Tips
Imagine the 'staff' (employees) of a company all leaning on a 'staff' (stick) for support. This links the two meanings.