distaffe

Noun

distaffe (plural distaffes)

1. Obsolete spelling of distaff.
   • c. 1601–1602, William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or VVhat You VVill”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene iii], page 256:

     Then hadſt thou had an excellent head of haire. […] Excellent, it hangs like flax on a diſtaffe: & I hope to ſee a huſwife take thee between her legs, & ſpin it off.

   • c. 1603–1606, [William Shakespeare], M. William Shak-speare: His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. With the Vnfortunate Life of Edgar, Sonne and Heire to the Earle of Gloster, and His Sullen and Assumed Humor of Tom of Bedlam: As it was Played before the Kings Maiestie at Whitehall vpon S. Stephans Night in Christmas Hollidayes. By His Maiesties Seruants Playing vsually at the Gloabe on the Bancke-side (First Quarto), London: Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Pide Bull neere St. Austins gate, published 1608, OCLC 54196469, [Act IV, scene ii]:

     I muſt change armes at home, and giue the diſtaffe / Into my Husbands hands, […]

Anagrams

• daffiest