1. A staff that holds on its cleft end the unspun flax, wool, or tow from which thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
2. an attachment for a spinning wheel that serves this purpose.
3. work and concerns traditionally considered important to women.
4. women considered as a group.

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of women
2. referring to the maternal side of a family
3. a device to which a bundle of natural fibres (often wool, flax, or cotton) are attached for temporary storage, before being drawn off gradually to spin thread. A traditional distaff is a staff with flax fibres tied loosely to it (see etymology), but modern distaffs are often made of cords weighted with beads, and attached to the wrist.
4. the part of a spinning wheel from which fibre is drawn to be spun
5. anything traditionally done by or considered of importance to women only
6. women considered as a group

1. the staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
2. used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a woman; women, collectively.

1. in the earliest method of spinning, the staff, usually a cleft stick about 3 feet long, on which was wound a quantity of wool, cotton, or flax to be spun.
2. figuratively, a woman, or the female sex.

1. characteristic of or peculiar to a woman
2. the sphere of work by women
3. the staff on which wool or flax is wound before spinning