Category:Housewife

House"wife`, n. Etym: [House + wife. Cf. Hussy.]

1. The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household. Shak. He a good husband, a good housewife she. Dryden.

2. (Usually pronounced Etym: [See Hussy, in this sense.]

Defn: A little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for other articles of female work; -- called also hussy. [Written also huswife.] P. Skelton.

3. A hussy. [R.] [Usually written huswife.] Shak. Sailor's housewife, a ditty-bag.

housewife; housewive House"wife`, House"wive`, v. t.

Defn: To manage with skill and economy, as a housewife or other female manager; to economize. Conferred those moneys on the nuns, which since they have well housewived. Fuller.