Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [dis-taf, -tahf]
- /ˈdɪs tæf, -tɑf/
- /ˈdɪstɑːf/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [dis-taf, -tahf]
- /ˈdɪs tæf, -tɑf/
Definitions of distaff word
- noun distaff a staff with a cleft end for holding wool, flax, etc., from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand. 1
- noun distaff a similar attachment on a spinning wheel. 1
- noun distaff Archaic. a woman or women collectively. women's work. 1
- adjective distaff Sometimes Offensive. noting, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for a female. See also distaff side. 1
- noun 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. 1
- noun distaff A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound for spinning. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of distaff
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English distaf, Old English distæf, equivalent to dis- (cognate with Low German diesse bunch of flax on a distaff; cf. dizen) + stæf staff1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Distaff
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
distaff popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 74% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
distaff usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for distaff
adj distaff
- female — a person bearing two X chromosomes in the cell nuclei and normally having a vagina, a uterus and ovaries, and developing at puberty a relatively rounded body and enlarged breasts, and retaining a beardless face; a girl or woman.
- ladylike — like a lady.
- maternal — of, pertaining to, having the qualities of, or befitting a mother: maternal instincts.
- womanish — womanlike or feminine.
- womanly — like or befitting a woman; feminine; not masculine or girlish.
noun distaff
- muliebrity — womanly nature or qualities.
- femaleness — a person bearing two X chromosomes in the cell nuclei and normally having a vagina, a uterus and ovaries, and developing at puberty a relatively rounded body and enlarged breasts, and retaining a beardless face; a girl or woman.
- womanhood — the state of being a woman; womanly character or qualities.
- womankind — women, as distinguished from men; the female sex.
- womanliness — like or befitting a woman; feminine; not masculine or girlish.
adjective distaff
- feminine — pertaining to a woman or girl: feminine beauty; feminine dress.
Top questions with distaff
- what is a distaff?
- what does distaff mean?
- what is distaff?
- how to use a distaff?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
- Words starting with di
- Words starting with dis
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- Words starting with distaff