DISTAFF

 Dictionary entry overview: What does distaff mean? 

• DISTAFF (noun)
  The noun DISTAFF has 2 senses:

1. the sphere of work by women
2. the staff on which wool or flax is wound before spinning

  Familiarity information: DISTAFF used as a noun is rare.

• DISTAFF (adjective)
  The adjective DISTAFF has 1 sense:

1. characteristic of or peculiar to a woman

  Familiarity information: DISTAFF used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISTAFF (noun)

Meaning:

The sphere of work by women

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("distaff" is a kind of...):

area; arena; domain; field; orbit; sphere (a particular environment or walk of life)

Meaning:

The staff on which wool or flax is wound before spinning

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("distaff" is a kind of...):

staff (a strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose)

Holonyms ("distaff" is a part of...):

spinning wheel (a small domestic spinning machine with a single spindle that is driven by hand or foot)

• DISTAFF (adjective)

Meaning:

Characteristic of or peculiar to a woman

Synonyms:

distaff; female

Context examples:

female sensitiveness / female suffrage

Similar:

feminine (associated with women and not with men)