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Detective officer, man of concern to women (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

distaff

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'man of concern to women' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'detective officer' is the wordplay.
'detective' becomes 'di' (Detective Inspector abbreviation).
'officer' becomes 'staff officer' (staff officer is a kind of officer).
'di'+'staff'='DISTAFF'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for distaff that I've seen before include "Wool-spinning stick" , "Stick holding wood, in spinning" , "Stick on which wool is wound before spinning" , "Female line" , "Female - rod on which wool or flax is wound before spinning" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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