staffless

English

Etymology

staff +‎ -less

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈstæfləs/

Adjective

staffless (not comparable)

1. Without employees; unstaffed.
   • 1963 June, “News and Comment: Wales and the Plan”, in Modern Railways, page 365:

     But he believes that Briton Ferry, Llansamlet North and Pembrey and Burry Port would be worth preserving as staffless "bus stops"; the last-mentioned, he points out, brings in nine times as much passenger revenue as Narberth which is not threatened.

2. Without a staff, or walking-stick.
   • 1989, Backpacker, volume 17, number 2, page 23:

     Picking up a good stick on the trail is usually easy […] Give it a good sling, or set it by the trailhead for the next staffless vagabond who passes by.

3. (music) Without the use of staves in its notation.
4. (of runes) Without vertical staves.

Synonyms

• (without musical staves): staveless
• (without runic staves): staveless