dis|taff

dis|taff
dis|taff «DIHS taf, -tahf», noun, adjective.
–n.
1. a stick, split at the tip, to hold wool or flax for spinning by hand.
2. the staff on a spinning wheel for holding wool or flax.
3. woman's work or affairs.
4. the female sex; woman or women.
5. the female branch of a family.
6. a female heir.
–adj.
of women; having to do with or suited to women or their affairs; female: »

There are only two distaff members in the Senate (Parade). It's a very informal, distaff operation, and the women all love the feeling that they are close to the publishing world (Saturday Review).

╂[Old English distæf < dis- flax + stæf staff]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • dis·taff — /ˈdıˌstæf, Brit ˈdıˌstɑːf/ adj, always used before a noun formal : of, relating to, or being a woman : ↑female the distaff [=maternal] side of the family distaff executives …   Useful english dictionary

  • taff — dis·taff·er; taff·rail; dis·taff; …   English syllables

  • dis — dis·accord; dis·advantage; dis·affect; dis·aggregate; dis·ap·pear; dis·array; dis·bar; dis·burse; dis·card; dis·charge; dis·ci·ple; dis·ci·pli·nar·i·an; dis·ci·pline; dis·claim; dis·close; dis·co; dis·co·glos·sid; dis·coid; dis·coi·dal;… …   English syllables

  • distaff — dis·taff …   English syllables

  • distaffer — dis·taff·er …   English syllables

  • distaff — dis•taff [[t]ˈdɪs tæf, tɑf[/t]] n. 1) tex a long staff for holding wool, flax, etc., from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand 2) sex archaic a) women collectively b) women s work or concerns 3) distaff side 4) sex of or pertaining to… …   From formal English to slang

  • distaff — dis|taff [ˈdısta:f US stæf] n a stick, used in the past for spinning wool …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • distaff — dis|taff [ dı,stæf ] noun count a small stick used in the past for winding wool around when SPINNING on the distaff side OLD FASHIONED on the woman s side of a family …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • distaff side — dis′taff side n. sex the female side of a family • Etymology: 1885–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • Descent by distaff — Distaff Dis taff, n.; 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”