1. a staff holding wool or flax for spinning into thread
Usage: historical

1. relating to women or the female side of a family
Usage: formal

Examples

• The medieval woman held the distaff while spinning wool into yarn.
• She learned to use the distaff from her grandmother.
• The distaff side of the family included many talented artists.
• He traced his ancestry through the distaff line.
• The spinning wheel eventually replaced the traditional distaff.
• Her distaff relatives were known for their business acumen.