[ˈdɪstɑːf], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a stick or spindle on to which wool or flax is wound for spinning

- of or concerning women
(e.g: marriage is still the passport to distaff power)


Phrases:
- the distaff side

Origin:
Old English distæf: the first element is apparently related to Middle Low German dise, disene ‘distaff, bunch of flax’; the second is staff. distaff arose because spinning was traditionally done by women