catflap.org Online Dictionary Query |
6 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
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 is drawn in spinning by hand.
[1913 Webster]
I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin.
--Fairfax.
[1913 Webster]
2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a
woman; women, collectively.
[1913 Webster]
His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too
busy. --Howell.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont
& Fletcher.
[1913 Webster]
Descent by distaff, descent on the mother's side.
Distaff Day, or Distaff's Day, the morrow of the
Epiphany, that is, January 7, because working at the
distaff was then resumed, after the Christmas festival; --
called also Rock Day, a distaff being called a rock.
--Shipley.
[1913 Webster]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]
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 is drawn in spinning by hand.
I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin.
--Fairfax.
2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a
woman; women, collectively.
His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne.
--Dryden.
Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too
busy. --Howell.
Note: The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont
& Fletcher.
Descent by distaff, descent on the mother's side.
Distaff Day, or Distaff's Day, the morrow of the
Epiphany, that is, January 7, because working at the
distaff was then resumed, after the Christmas festival; --
called also Rock Day, a distaff being called a rock.
--Shipley.
From English Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-ALL-2023-07-27 ]
Distaff Day
n.
7 January, the day after the feast of the Epiphany.
From English Wiktionary: English language only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-en-2023-07-27 ]
Distaff Day
n.
7 January, the day after the feast of the Epiphany.
From English Wiktionary: Western, Greek, and Slavonic languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western_Greek_Slavonic-2023-07-27 ]
Distaff Day
n.
7 January, the day after the feast of the Epiphany.
From English Wiktionary: Western languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western-2023-07-27 ]
Distaff Day
n.
7 January, the day after the feast of the Epiphany.
Questions or comments about this site? Contact dictionary@catflap.org
Access Stats