Where does “Staffelstab” come from?

Staffelstab (German) comes from German stab, from Middle High German stap, from Old High German stab, from Proto-Germanic *stab.

Staffelstab (German): relay race baton

Definitions

  1. relay race baton

Ancestry of “Staffelstab”, step by step

Staffelstab traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German stab

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanstabrod, staff, baton
2Middle High Germanstap—
3Old High Germanstab—
4Proto-Germanic*stab—

via German Staffel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanStaffelseason; relay; squadron
2Proto-Germanicstapulazpillar, post; basis, foundation
3Proto-Indo-Europeanstebʰ‑to stand still
Every word from Proto-Germanic *stab →Every word from Old High German stab →Every word from Middle High German stap →
Staffelstab — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer