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For the increase of trade and the encouragement of the worthy burgesses of Woodstock, her majesty was minded to erect the town into a staple for wool.
2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 73:
Calais was one of the ‘principal treasures’ of the crown, of both strategic and economic importance. It was home to the staple, the crown-controlled marketplace for England's lucrative textile trade, whose substantial customs and tax revenues flooded into Henry's coffers.
Whitehall naturally became the chiefstaple of news. Whenever there was a rumour that anything important had happened or was about to happen, people hastened thither to obtain intelligence from the fountain head.
The principal commodity produced in a town or region.
1961 October, “Editorial: The importance of the "Roadrailer"”, in Trains Illustrated, page 577:
The old staple of coal is a declining traffic; and what remains tends to be hauled a shorter distance, as new power stations are sited closer to coalfields.
In most countries, rubbish makes headlines only when it is not collected, and stinking sackslieheaped on the streets. In Britain bins are a front-page staple.
Short fiber, as of cotton, sheep’s wool, or the like, which can be spun into yarn or thread.
1714 February, [Jonathan Swift], The Publick Spirit of the Whigs: Set forth in Their Generous Encouragement of the Author of the Crisis:, 3rd edition, London: for John Morphew,, published 1714, →OCLC:
What needy writer would not solicit to work under such masters, who will pay us beforehand, take off as much of our ware as we please, at our own rates, and trouble not themselves to examine, either before or after they have bought it, whether it be staple, or not.
Regularly produced or manufactured in large quantities; belonging to wholesale traffic; principal; chief.
1818, Henry Hallam, View of the state of Europe during the Middle ages:
The pastoral industry, which had weathered the severe depression of the early forties by recourse to boiling down the sheep for their tallow, and was now firmly re-established as the staple industry of the colony, was threatened once more with eclipse.
Esther's wrists were firmly tied, and the twisted rope was fastened to a strong staple in a heavy wooden joist above, near the fire-place. Here she stood, on a bench, her arms tightly drawn over her breast. Her back and shoulders were bare to the waist.
One of a set of U-shaped metal rods hammered into a structure, such as a piling or wharf, which serve as a ladder.
Fortunately, there were staples in the quay wall, and she was able to climb out of the water.
(mining) A shaft, smaller and shorter than the principal one, joining different levels.
1605, William Camden, “Money”, in Remaines Concerning Britain:
[Henry II] also granted liberty of coyning to certain Cities and Abbies, allowing them one staple and two puncheons at a rate, with certain restrictions.