distaff

 
Pronunciation: /ˈdɪstɑːf/

noun

  • 1a stick or spindle on to which wool or flax is wound for spinning.
  • 2 [as modifier] of or concerning women: marriage is still the passport to distaff power

Phrases

the distaff side

the female side of a family: the family title could be passed down through the distaff sideThe opposite of the spear side.

Origin:

Old English distæf: the first element is apparently related to Middle Low German dise, disene 'distaff, bunch of flax'; the second is staff1. distaff (sense 2) arose because spinning was traditionally done by women