gibstaffEtymologyFrom the dialectal term gib (“hooked stick”) + staff.nounA staff to gauge water, or to push a boat.“The house boats of the Mohannas are called “Doondees“. One family may live in the same small boat for as long as half a century. These “Doondees“ range in size between 6 m long and 2 m wide up to a length of 14 m and a width of 4 m in the middle of the boat. The boat is basically steered by a gibstaff.”A staff used in stick fighting; a quarterstaff.