An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Staupe

by Friedrich Kluge

Staupe, feminine, ‘rod, scourge,’ from Middle High German (Middle German) stûpe, ‘post to which a criminal is bound and beaten with rods’; hence stäupen, ‘to flog, scourge,’ which occurs in Modern High German only. Corresponding to Old Frisian stûpa, ‘public chastisement with the rod.’ Early history obscure.