Distaff
1 dis•taff \ˈdis-ˌtaf\ noun
plural distaffs \-ˌtafs, -ˌtavz\ [Middle English distaf, from Old English dist+f, from dis- (akin to Middle Low German dise bunch of flax) + st+f staff] before 12th century
1 a: a staff for holding the flax, tow, or wool in spinning
b: woman’s work or domain
2: the female branch or side of a family
2 distaff adjective
circa 1633
1: MATERNAL 2 〈the distaff side of the family〉—compare SPEAR
2: FEMALE 1 〈distaff executives〉
dis•tain \dis-ˈtān\ verb transitive
[Middle English disteynen, from Anglo-French desteindre to take away the color of, from de- + teindre to dye, from Latin tingere to wet, dye—more at TINGE] 14th century
1 archaic: STAIN
2 archaic: DISHONOR
Mish, Frederick C. “Preface.” Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. 2003 : n. pag. Print.
Mish, Frederick C. “Preface.” Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. 2003 : n. pag. Print.
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