What is "runic staff"

Runic \Ru"nic\, a. Of or pertaining to a rune, to runes, or to the Norsemen; as, runic verses; runic letters; runic names; runic rhyme.

Runic staff. See Clog almanac, under Clog.

Runic wand, a willow wand bearing runes, formerly thought to have been used by the heathen tribes of Northern Europe in magical ceremonies.

Clog \Clog\ (kl[o^]g), n. [OE. clogge clog, Scot. clag, n., a clot, v., to to obstruct, cover with mud or anything adhesive; prob. of the same origin as E. clay.]

1. That which hinders or impedes motion; hence, an encumbrance, restraint, or impediment, of any kind.

   All the ancient, honest, juridical principles and institutions of England are so many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and opression.
   --Burke.

2. A weight, as a log or block of wood, attached to a man or an animal to hinder motion.

   As a dog . . . but chance breaks loose, And quits his clog.
   --Hudibras.

   A clog of lead was round my feet.
   --Tennyson.

3. A shoe, or sandal, intended to protect the feet from wet, or to increase the apparent stature, and having, therefore, a very thick sole. Cf. Chopine.

   In France the peasantry goes barefoot; and the middle sort . . . makes use of wooden clogs.
   --Harvey.

   Clog almanac, a primitive kind of almanac or calendar, formerly used in England, made by cutting notches and figures on the four edges of a clog, or square piece of wood, brass, or bone; -- called also a Runic staff, from the Runic characters used in the numerical notation.

   Clog dance, a dance performed by a person wearing clogs, or thick-soled shoes.

   Clog dancer.