distaff
Speech parts
1. distaff - Noun
2. distaff - Adjective
3. distaff - Adjective Satellite
Meaning
The staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a woman; women, collectively.
Source: Webster's dictionarySynonyms
Antonyms
Show all antonymsHypernyms
Derivatives
Examples
female sensitiveness
female suffrage
The word “distaff” dates back to the 11th century, when it meant a staff, about a yard or so long, wound with unspun flax or wool fibers.
The term has been used since the late 15th century for female in general, as in “distaff side,” meaning the female line of descent or simply things female.