The Tipstaff is an officer of a court or, in some countries, a law clerk to a judge. The duties of the position vary from country to country. It is also the name of the rod of authority of such a person or police officer. The emblem of two crossed tipstaffs (tipstaves) is used to denote the rank of assistant chief constable or commander in the UK ... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipstaff
Tip'staff` noun ; plural Tipstaff 1. A staff tipped with metal. Bacon. 2. An officer who bears a staff tipped with metal; a constable. Macaulay. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/T/61
A tipstaff is a metal-tipped staff which is a symbol of a Sheriff's office. The tipstaff was an officer of the High Court, whose duty it was to arrest and take into custody persons committed to prison by the court. Found on http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/browse/AT.HTM