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sta·ple²

(stāpəl)

1. A thin piece of wire shaped as three sides of a square so that it can be driven into thin or soft material, such as paper, and bent to function as a fastener.

2. A similarly shaped piece of metal with pointed ends, driven into a surface to secure a bolt, hook, hasp, or length of wiring.

tr.v. sta·pled, sta·pling, sta·ples

To secure or fasten by means of a staple or staples.

[Middle English, from Old English stapol, post, pillar.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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