Английский Этимологический словарь - stave (n.)

- 1750, back-formation from staves (14c.), plural of staff, (cf. leaves/leaf), possibly from O.E., but not recorded there. The verb (to stave in, past tense stove) is 1595, originally nautical, on notion of breaking the staves of a cask; stave off is lit. "keep off with a staff," as of dogs.