What is a distaff?

A A wool-spinning tool
B A shepherd’s crook
C A type of yarn

The distaff is a tool that predates the invention of the spinning wheel in 1533, and it holds wool neatly in place before it’s spun on the spindle. January 7 is Distaff Day, an event dating back to medieval times when women went back to work spinning yarn after the Christmas holidays.

The correct answer is A wool-spinning tool.