As a
noun, a
distaff (, also called a
rock) is a
tool used in
spinning. It is designed to hold the unspun
fibers, keeping them untangled and thus easing the spinning process. It is most commonly used to hold
flax, and sometimes
wool, but can be used for any type of fiber. Fiber is wrapped around the distaff, and tied in place with a piece of ribbon or string. The word comes from
dis in Low German, meaning a bunch of flax, connected with staff.