- staple (1)
- "bent piece of metal with pointed ends," 1295, from O.E. stapol "post, pillar," from P.Gmc. *stapulaz "pillar" (cf. O.Fris. stapul "stem of a tooth," M.L.G. stapel "block for executions," Ger. stapel "stake, beam"), from PIE stebh- (see staff). How this evolved into the modern fastening device is unclear, and it may not be the same word. Meaning "piece of thin wire driven through papers to hold them together" is attested from 1895; stapler is from 1951.
- staple (2)
- "principal article grown or made in a country or district," early 15c., "official market for some class of merchandise," from Anglo-Fr. (14c.), from O.Fr. estaple "market," from a Gmc. source akin to M.L.G. stapol, M.Du. stapel "market," from the same source as staple (1), the notion being of market stalls behind pillars of an arcade, or else of a raised platform where the king's deputies administered judgment. The sense of "principle article grown or made in a place" is 1610s, short for staple ware "wares and goods from a market" (early 15c.).