distaff
adjective
°of, relating to, or characteristic of women.
°referring to the maternal side of a family.
noun
°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.
°the part of a spinning wheel from which fibre is drawn to be spun.
synonyms: female, maternal