Etymology · Proto-Germanic
*stabaz
2 English words descend from Proto-Germanic *stabaz, most common first.
- staffA long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick, especially one used to assist in walking.
- distaffA device to which a bundle of natural fibres (often wool, flax, or cotton) is attached for temporary storage, before being drawn off gradually to spin thread. A traditional distaff is a staff with flax fibres tied loosely to it (as indicated by the etymology of the word), but modern distaffs are often made of cords weighted with beads, and attached to the wrist.