distaff side
noun
1- the female side of a family母系, 女系：
the family title could be passed down through the distaff side.
家族名称可以通过母系向下传。SPEAR SIDE的反义词。
1.1
- the female members of a group组织的女性成员：
this fascination was not limited to the distaff side of society.
这种痴迷并不仅限于社会中的女性。
词源
late 19th cent.: because spinning （see DISTAFF） was traditionally done by women while men did the weaving.