EpicentRx Word of the Week (WOW): Distaff

May 6, 2024

“Distaff? What about datstaff?”

 

 

 

 

Distaff

Definition (noun): a stick around which wool is wound for spinning.

Definition (adjective): of or concerning women.

Pronunciation: dist-aaf

Example sentences:
Distaff is an old word that appears in both Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and several of Shakespeare’s plays.”
“Mother’s Day honors the distaff side of families.”
“Marie Curie is a distaff role model of science”.
“The distaff side of the family is long-lived and healthy”.
“A race of female horses only is known as “distaffs.”
“An antonym of distaff is agnate”.

Word Origin:
From Middle English distaff.