n.1 a a cleft stick holding wool or flax wound for spinning by hand. b the corresponding part of a spinning-wheel.
2 women's work.
Phrases and idioms:
distaff side the female branch of a family.
Etymology: OE dist{aelig}f (as STAFF(1)), the first element being app. rel. to LG diesse, MLG dise(ne) bunch of flax