- the rod on which flax is wound preparatory to spinning
- (modifier) of or concerning women
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•taff
(dis′taf, -täf ),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- Textilesa staff with a cleft end for holding wool, flax, etc., from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
- Textilesa similar attachment on a spinning wheel.
- Sex and Gender[Archaic.]
- a woman or women collectively.
- woman's work.
adj.
- Sex and Gender[Sometimes Offensive.]noting, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable for a woman;
female.
- bef. 1000; Middle English distaf, Old English distæf, equivalent. to dis- (cognate with Low German diesse bunch of flax on a distaff; compare dizen) + stæf staff
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
distaff /ˈdɪstɑːf/ n
'distaff' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
distaff side
- dizen
- ratchet
- rocambole
- rocket
- distaffer
- top
- spear side
- spindle
- spindle side