Distaves definition

Distaves





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1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [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.
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              I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin.
                                                    --Fairfax.
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     2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a
        woman; women, collectively.
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              His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne.
                                                    --Dryden.
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              Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too
              busy.                                 --Howell.
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     Note: The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont
           & Fletcher.
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     {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]

















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