Chapter Dircæ'an Swan to Distraction of D by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Distaff A woman. Properly the staff from which the flax was drawn in spinning. The allusion is to the ancient custom of women, who spun from morning to night. (See Spinster.)

"The crown of France never fails to the distaff."
- Kersey.

   To have tow on the distaff. To have work in hand. Froissart says, "Il aura en bref temps autres estoupes en sa quenouille. "

"He haddë more tow on his distaf
Than Gerveys knew."
Chaucer: Canterbury Tales. 3.772.

   St. Distaff's Day. The 7th of January. So called because the Christmas festival terminated on Twelfth Day, and on the day following the women returned to their distaffs or daily occupations. It is also called Rock Day, a distaff being called a rock. "In old times they used to spin with rocks." (Aubrey, Wilts.)

"Give St. Distaff all the right,
Then give Christmas sport good night,
And next morrow every one
To his own vocatiön." (1657)

"What! shall a woman with a rock drive thee away?
Fye on thee, traitor' "
Digby: Mysteries, p.11.

Distaffina To whom Bombastes Furioso makes love. (Thomas Barnes Rhodes: Bombastes Furioso.)

Distemper means an undue mixture. In medicine a distemper arises from the redundancy of certain secretions or morbid humours. The distemper in dogs is an undue quantity of secretions manifested by a running from the eyes and nose. (Latin, dis-tempero, to mix amiss.)
   Applied to painting, the word is from another source, the French détremper (to soak in water), because the paints, instead of being mixed with oil, are mixed with a vehicle (as yolk of eggs or glue) soluble in water.

Distinguished Member of the Humane Society The name of this dog was Paul Pry. Landseer says, "Mr. Newman Smith was rather disappointed when his dog appeared in character rather than `the property of Newman Smith, Esq., of Croydon Lodge.' " (Notes and Queries, March 21st, 1885, p. 225.)

Distraction An excellent example of how greatly the meaning of words may change. To "distract" means now, to harass, to perplex; and "distraction" confusion of mind from a great multiplicity of duties; but in French to "distract" means to divert the mind, and "distraction" means recreation or amusement (Latin, dis-traho). (See Slave.)