"bent piece of metal with pointed ends," late 13c., from Old English stapol "post, pillar, trunk of a tree, steps to a house," from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz "pillar" (sou [..]

"principal article grown or made in a country or district," early 15c., "official market for some class of merchandise," from Anglo-French estaple (14c.), Old French estaple " [..]

late 14c., "to fix with a (large) staple," from staple (n.1). In the wire paper fastener sense, by 1898. Related: Stapled; stapling.

basic or regular item.

A staple is one or more of the most important items, grown, sold, or made in a specific place, country, or region.

On chained books, the metal fitting that attaches the chain to one of the boards, usually at its head (see this example, courtesy of the Cornell University Library).

Short lengths of fiber that may be converted into spun yarns by textile yarn spinning processes. The fibers are usually 6” to 8” in length and are then transformed into yarn during the yarn manufacturing process.

1) An official site for selling wool. The government decreed that wool could only be sold at certain locations in order to control the trade and to facilitate the collection of customs. Sites often ch [..]

(n) (usually plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant(n) a natural fiber (raw cotton, wool, hemp, flax) that can be twisted to form yarn(n) material suitable for manufacture or use o [..]

Short lengths of fiber that may be converted into spun yarns by textile yarn spinning processes. The fibers are usually 6” to 8” in length and are then transformed into yarn during the yarn manufacturing process.

1. A box-like fitting on the jamb of an inward opening door, and into which the bolt or bolts of a rim latch or lock shoot when door is closed. (It is sometimes referred to in Scotland and the North of England as a Bosshead). Some staples are lipped to act as a guide for the springbolt. 2. Part of a hasp and staple for use with a padlock. The padlo [..]

The chief item or most important items made, grown or sold in a particular place, region, country, etc.

The term staple is used in the textile industry to distinguish natural or cut-length manufactured fibers from filament (which can be extremely long). With a natural fiber like cotton, "staple&quo [..]