Skip to content
vocaboo
Beta
Log in

distaff

Pronunciation: [ˈdɪstæf]

Word

Learn how to use distaff in a sentence: 6 audio examples across 2 meanings.

Context: “crafting”

(noun) a tool used in spinning to hold unspun fibers like wool or flax. It’s often made of wood and helps people make yarn for weaving or knitting.

Example

The weaver used her distaff to keep the wool fibers organized while she spun them into yarn.

Example

He couldn't make the yarn because he forgot to bring his distaff to the crafting session.

Example

Do you know how to use a distaff for spinning wool?

Context: “gender roles”

(noun) a term used to refer to women and their roles, especially in relation to traditional family responsibilities. It comes from when women used the distaff while spinning, which symbolizes their work at home.

Example

In the old stories, the distaff represents the strength and skills of women in their households.

Example

He believed that the distaff was an outdated symbol of women’s roles and didn’t apply to today's world.

Example

Why do you think the distaff is used to symbolize women's work?

How to pronounce distaff

Pronunciation: [ˈdɪstæf]

Listen and repeat as many times as you need.

0s
0s