Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A staff with a flat disk at one end, used in churning by hand in an upright churn.
- noun A name of the sunspurge, Euphorbia helioscopia, from its straight stem spreading into a flat top.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word churn-staff.
Examples
-
A churn-staff made of this wood secured the butter during the process of churning.
Folk Lore Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland within This Century James Napier 1847
-
On entering the kitchen, he found that he had been anticipated: there was neither tongs, poker, nor churn-staff, nor, in fact, anything wherewith he could assault his enemies; all had been carried off by others.
The Ned M'Keown Stories Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three William Carleton 1831
-
So according, after a very hard battle on her side, being a powerful woman, she was obliged to travel -- but not till she had left many of them marks to remimber her by; among the rest, Dick himself got his nose split on his face, with the stroke of a churn-staff, so that he carried half a nose on each cheek till the day of his death.
The Ned M'Keown Stories Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three William Carleton 1831
-
She then lit a rush-light, which she pressed against a small cleft of iron that was driven into a wooden shaft, about three feet long, which stood upon a bottom that resembled the head of a churn-staff.
Willy Reilly The Works of William Carleton, Volume One William Carleton 1831
-
a taste of soda [119], and worked up and down with a machine, something like a churn-staff, until it is of the consistence of thick cream, when it is ready for use.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil And Residence There During Part of the Years 1821, 1822, 1823 Maria Graham
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.