distaff

[ dis-taf, -tahf ]

/ ˈdɪs tæf, -tɑf /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR distaff ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a staff with a cleft end for holding wool, flax, etc., from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.

a similar attachment on a spinning wheel.

Archaic.

a woman or women collectively.
women's work.

adjective

Sometimes Offensive. noting, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for a female.See also distaff side.

Origin of distaff

before 1000; Middle English distaf,Old English distæf, equivalent to dis- (cognate with Low German diesse bunch of flax on a distaff; cf. dizen) + stæfstaff¹

usage note for distaff

A distaff is the stick onto which wool or flax is wound in spinning. Since spinning was traditionally done by females, distaff took on figurative meanings relating to women or women’s work. In the sense of “female,” the noun distaff is archaic, but the adjective is in current use: distaff chores, a distaff point of view; the distaff side of the family. Women who find the term offensive are probably aware of its origin in female stereotypes. Another current use of the adjective is in reference to horses: a distaff race is for fillies or mares.

Words nearby distaff

dissyllabize, dissyllable, dissymmetry, dist., distad, distaff, distaffer, distaff side, distain, distal, distal myopathy

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for distaff

Indeed, the distaff vote may yet again break Republican this cycle—as it did in 2010—if the polls are to be believed.
The 2014 Election Is Yet Another Scrum in the Culture Wars|Lloyd Green|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Maggie in a 1990 production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof she was more than just a slip of distaff Mississippi flesh.
Kathleen Turner's New Broadway High|Kevin Sessums|April 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, she had done little for many years except twirl the distaff in her corner by the fire.
Red Cap Tales|Samuel Rutherford Crockett
He removed the final f from bailiff, mastiff, plaintiff and pontiff, but left it in distaff.
The American Language|Henry L. Mencken

Then seek your chamber and attend to matters of your own,—the loom, the distaff,—and bid the women ply their tasks.
The Children's Hour, Volume 3 (of 10)|Various
The first held the distaff, the second spun the thread, and the third cut it.
Dryden's Works (13 of 18): Translations; Pastorals|John Dryden
Above all, the entire school is minus virility; its music is of the distaff, and has not the masculine ring of crossed swords.
Ivory Apes and Peacocks|James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for distaff

distaff

/ (ˈdɪstɑːf) /

noun

the rod on which flax is wound preparatory to spinning

(modifier) of or concerning womenoffensive to distaff members of the audience

Word Origin for distaff

Old English distæf, from dis- bunch of flax + stæf staff 1; see dizen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

单词	distaff
释义	distaff [ dis-taf, -tahf ] / ˈdɪs tæf, -tɑf / SEE SYNONYMS FOR distaff ON THESAURUS.COM noun a staff with a cleft end for holding wool, flax, etc., from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand. a similar attachment on a spinning wheel. Archaic. a woman or women collectively. women's work. adjective Sometimes Offensive. noting, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for a female.See also distaff side. Origin of distaff before 1000; Middle English distaf,Old English distæf, equivalent to dis- (cognate with Low German diesse bunch of flax on a distaff; cf. dizen) + stæfstaff¹ usage note for distaff A distaff is the stick onto which wool or flax is wound in spinning. Since spinning was traditionally done by females, distaff took on figurative meanings relating to women or women’s work. In the sense of “female,” the noun distaff is archaic, but the adjective is in current use: distaff chores, a distaff point of view; the distaff side of the family. Women who find the term offensive are probably aware of its origin in female stereotypes. Another current use of the adjective is in reference to horses: a distaff race is for fillies or mares. Words nearby distaff dissyllabize, dissyllable, dissymmetry, dist., distad, distaff, distaffer, distaff side, distain, distal, distal myopathy Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for distaff Indeed, the distaff vote may yet again break Republican this cycle—as it did in 2010—if the polls are to be believed. The 2014 Election Is Yet Another Scrum in the Culture Wars\|Lloyd Green\|October 27, 2014\|DAILY BEAST As Maggie in a 1990 production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof she was more than just a slip of distaff Mississippi flesh. Kathleen Turner's New Broadway High\|Kevin Sessums\|April 17, 2011\|DAILY BEAST Indeed, she had done little for many years except twirl the distaff in her corner by the fire. Red Cap Tales\|Samuel Rutherford Crockett He removed the final f from bailiff, mastiff, plaintiff and pontiff, but left it in distaff. The American Language\|Henry L. Mencken Then seek your chamber and attend to matters of your own,—the loom, the distaff,—and bid the women ply their tasks. The Children's Hour, Volume 3 (of 10)\|Various The first held the distaff, the second spun the thread, and the third cut it. Dryden's Works (13 of 18): Translations; Pastorals\|John Dryden Above all, the entire school is minus virility; its music is of the distaff, and has not the masculine ring of crossed swords. Ivory Apes and Peacocks\|James Huneker British Dictionary definitions for distaff distaff / (ˈdɪstɑːf) / noun the rod on which flax is wound preparatory to spinning (modifier) of or concerning womenoffensive to distaff members of the audience Word Origin for distaff Old English distæf, from dis- bunch of flax + stæf staff 1; see dizen Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Words related to distaff female, muliebrity, womanhood, womankind, womanliness, ladylike, maternal, womanish
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distaff

noun

adjective

Origin of distaff

usage note for distaff

Words nearby distaff

Example sentences from the Web for distaff

British Dictionary definitions for distaff

noun

Word Origin for distaff

Words related to distaff