[f. CHURN sb. + -STAFF.]
1. A staff or rod used for agitating or ‘dashing’ the cream or milk in a standing churn.
c. 1475. Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 793/22. Hoc coagulatorium, a scharnstafe.
1615. Markham, Eng. Housew., II. vi. (1668), 146. The lightness of the Churm-staff.
1762. Smollett, L. Greaves, iii. (D.). Employed in milking the cows, in twirling the mop or churn-staff.
1884. Chesh. Gloss., Churn-staff, the dasher of an old-fashioned ‘up and down’ churn.
2. Local name of Sun-Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia) and of Yellow Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris).
1853. N. & Q., Ser. I. VIII. 36/1. Sun Spurge … Churn Staff.
1879. Prior, Plant-n., 47.
1886. Britten & Holland, Plant-n., Churnstaff, (1) Euphorbia Helioscopia, (2) Linaria vulgaris.
