/ ˈdɪstɑːf; NAmE ˈdɪstæf/ noun
a stick that was used in the past for holding wool when it was spun by hand
•
IDIOMS
- on the distaff side
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English distæf : the first element is apparently related to Middle Low German dise , disene distaff, bunch of flax; the second is staff . The sense concerning women arose because spinning was traditionally done by women.