Distaff, the staff on which the flax or wool is fastened, and from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand. See SPINNING.
Distaff
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 4: Dionysius to Friction, p. 14
Source scan(s): p. 0023
Distaff, the staff on which the flax or wool is fastened, and from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand. See SPINNING.