jacob's staff
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A pilgrim's staff; from the Apostle James (Lat. Jacobus), who is usually represented with a staff and scallop shell.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “jacob's staff” mean?
A pilgrim's staff; from the Apostle James (Lat. Jacobus), who is usually represented with a staff and scallop shell.
Is “jacob's staff” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.