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I'd back employees on mother's side (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

distaff

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'mother's side' is the definition.
'distaff' can be an answer for 'side' (thesaurus). I am unsure of the 'mother's' bit.

'i'd back employees on' is the wordplay.
'back' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'employees' becomes 'staff' (I've seen this in other clues).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'id' in reverse letter order is 'di'.
'di'+'staff'='DISTAFF'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for distaff that I've seen before include "Wool-spinning spindle" , "(referring to the women)" , "female stick" , "Stick holding wood, in spinning" , "Spinner's rod" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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