[dis.taff] n, pl distaffs [ME distaf, fr. OE distaef, fr. dis- (akin to MLG dise bunch of flax) + staef staff] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a staff for holding the flax, tow, or wool in spinning b: woman's work or domain
2: the female branch or side of a family
[2]distaff adj (ca. 1633): maternal "the ~ side of the family"--compare spear; also: female "~ executives"