distaff

dis·taff  (dstf)

n.

1.

a. A staff that holds on its cleft end the unspun flax, wool, or tow from which thread is drawn in spinning by hand.

b. An attachment for a spinning wheel that serves this purpose.

2. Work and concerns traditionally considered important to women.

3. Women considered as a group.

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[Middle English distaf, from Old English distæf : dis-, bunch of flax + stæf, staff.]

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distaff [ˈdɪstɑːf]

n

1. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles) the rod on which flax is wound preparatory to spinning

2. Figurative women's work

[Old English distæf, from dis- bunch of flax + stæf staff¹; see dizen]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	distaff - the sphere of work by women arena, domain, sphere, orbit, area, field - a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit"
	2.	distaff - the staff on which wool or flax is wound before spinning spinning wheel - a small domestic spinning machine with a single spindle that is driven by hand or foot staff - a strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose; "he walked with the help of a wooden staff"
Adj.	1.	distaff - characteristic of or peculiar to a woman; "female sensitiveness"; "female suffrage" female feminine - associated with women and not with men; "feminine intuition"

Translations

distaff [ˈdɪstɑːf]

A. N → rueca f

B. CPD the distaff side N → la rama femenina
on the distaff side → por parte de madre

distaff [ˈdɪstɑːf] n
distaff side (humorous) → côté maternel
on the distaff side (humorous) → du côté maternel

distaff

n

(in spinning) → Spinnrocken m, → Kunkel f

on the distaff side → mütterlicherseits