HOW TO PRONOUNCE
distaff
/ˈdɪstæf/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:39
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What does distaff mean?
noun
- A device to which a bundle of natural fibres (often wool, flax, or cotton) is 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 (as indicated by the etymology of the word), but modern distaffs are often made of cords weighted with beads, and attached to the wrist.
- The part of a spinning wheel from which fibre is drawn to be spun.
- Anything traditionally done by or considered of importance to women only.
More meanings (4)
noun
- A race for female horses only.
- A woman, or women considered as a group.
adjective
- Of, relating to, or characteristic of women.
- Of the maternal side of a family.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈdɪstæf/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
We have seen that in Neolithic times they were acquainted with the use of the distaff.
The second nest is removed as it is, shrub and all, and placed at the bottom of the tall, ragged distaff.
More book examples (3)
I must change names at home, and give the distaff Into my husband’s hands.
Suddenly I looked up and saw the old woman with her distaff, sitting in the sun on the steps of a tenement house.
At Malaval too lived his grandmother, the good old woman who could lull him to sleep at night with beautiful stories and simple legends, while she wound her distaff or spun her bobbin.