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Webster 1913 Edition

Distaff

Dis′taff

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Distaffs
(#)
, rarely
Distaves
(#)
.
[OE.
distaf
,
dysestafe
, AS.
distaef
; cf. LG.
diesse
the bunch of flax on a distaff, and E.
dizen
. See
Staff
.]
1.
The staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
I will the
distaff
hold; come thou and spin.
Fairfax.
2.
Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a woman; women, collectively.
His crown usurped, a
distaff
on the throne.
Dryden.
Some say the crozier, some say the
distaff
was too busy.
Howell.
☞ The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont & Fletcher.
Descent by distaff
,
descent on the mother’s side.
–
Distaff Day
, or
Distaff's Day
,
the morrow of the Epiphany, that is, January 7, because working at the distaff was then resumed, after the Christmas festival; – called also
Rock Day
, a distaff being called a rock.
Shipley.

Webster 1828 Edition

Distaff

DISTAFF

,
Noun.
1.
The staff of a spinning-wheel, to which a bunch of flax or tow is tied, and from which the thread is drawn.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. Proverbs 31.
2.
Figuratively, a woman, or the female sex.
His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne.

Definition 2024

distaff

distaff

English

Noun

distaff ‎(plural distaffs)

  1. A device to which a bundle of natural fibres (often wool, flax, or cotton) are attached for temporary storage, before being drawn off gradually to spin thread. A traditional distaff is a staff with flax fibres tied loosely to it (see Etymology), but modern distaffs are often made of cords weighted with beads, and attached to the wrist.
  2. The part of a spinning wheel from which fibre is drawn to be spun.
  3. Anything traditionally done by or considered of importance to women only.
  4. A woman, or women considered as a group.
    • Dryden
      His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne.
    • Howell
      Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too busy.

Translations

Adjective

distaff ‎(not comparable)

  1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of women.
  2. Of the maternal side of a family.
    • 1892, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Noble Bachelor”, in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, HTML edition, The Gutenberg Project, published 2011:
      They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the distaff side.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • (of, relating to, or characteristic of women): male, paternal

Translations

Derived terms

Etymology

From Middle English distaf, from Old English distæf ‎(“distaff”), from Old English *dis (cognate with Middle Low German dise ‎(“bunch of flax”)) + Old English stæf ‎(“staff”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdɪstæf/

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