Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin.
                                                  --Fairfax.

   2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a
      woman; women, collectively.

            His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne.
                                                  --Dryden.

            Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too
            busy.                                 --Howell.

   Note: The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont
         & Fletcher.

   {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.