stag·ger (stāg'ər) v.
stag·gered, stag·ger·ing, stag·gers
v.
intr.
To move or stand unsteadily, as if under a great weight; totter.
To begin to lose confidence or strength of purpose; waver.
v.
tr.
To cause to totter, sway, or reel: The blow staggered him.
To overwhelm with emotion or astonishment.
To cause to waver or lose confidence.
To place on or as if on alternating sides of a center line; set in a zigzag row or rows: theater seats that were staggered for clear viewing.
To arrange in alternating or overlapping time periods: staggered the nurses' shifts.
To arrange (the wings of a biplane) so that the leading edge of one wing is either ahead of or behind the leading edge of the other wing.
Sports To arrange (the start of a race) with the starting point in the outside lanes progressively closer to the finish line so as to neutralize the advantage of competing in the shorter inside lanes.
n.
A tottering, swaying, or reeling motion.
A staggered pattern, arrangement, or order.
staggers(used with a sing. verb) Any of various diseases of the nervous system in animals, especially horses, cattle, or other domestic animals, characterized by a lack of coordination in moving, a staggering gait, and frequent falling. Also called blind staggers.
[Alteration of Middle English stakeren, from Old Norse stakra, frequentative of staka, to push.] stag'ger·er n., stag'ger·y adj.
(stāg'ər) 