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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Distaff \Dis"taff\, n.; pl. {Distaffs}, rarely {Distaves}. [OE.
distaf, dysestafe, AS. distaef; cf. LG. diesse the bunch of
flax on a distaff, and E. dizen. See {Staff}.]
1. The staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from
which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
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I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin.
--Fairfax.
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2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a
woman; women, collectively.
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His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne.
--Dryden.
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Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too
busy. --Howell.
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Note: The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont
& Fletcher.
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{Descent by distaff}, descent on the mother's side.

{Distaff Day}, or {Distaff's Day}, the morrow of the
Epiphany, that is, January 7, because working at the
distaff was then resumed, after the Christmas festival; --
called also {Rock Day}, a distaff being called a rock.
--Shipley.
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