I. ˈdiˌsta]f, -taa(ə)], -tai], -tȧ] noun
( plural distaffs ]fs, ]vz)
Etymology: Middle English distaf, from Old English distæf, from dis- bunch of flax (akin to Middle Low German dise bunch of flax on a distaff) + stæf staff — more at dizen , staff
1.
a. : a staff for holding the bunch of flax, tow, or wool from which thread is drawn in spinning by hand or with the spinning wheel
b. : woman's work, authority, or domain
a man fitter for the distaff than for war
2.
a. archaic : woman , female ; especially : a female heir
b. : the mother's side of a family
tracing their descent by distaff
— compare sword side
[s]distaff.jpg[/s] [
distaff 1a
]
II. adjective
: of or relating to a woman : female
cooking, sewing, and such distaff matters
distaff applicants must be high-school graduates — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
a golf swing that is the distaff counterpart of the male champion's
the entries in the golf tournament were largely on the distaff side
especially : consisting of, derived from, or related to the mother or female line
the distaff side of the family
the distaff branch of a family
— compare spear