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Webster 1913 Edition
Alewife
Ale′wifeˊ
,Noun.
pl.
Alewives
. A woman who keeps an alehouse.
Gay.
Ale′wifeˊ
,Noun.
pl.
Alewives
. [This word is properly
aloof
, the Indian name of a fish. See Winthrop on the culture of maize in America, “Phil Trans.” No. 142, p. 1065, and Baddam’s “Memoirs,” vol. ii. p. 131.] (Zool.)
A North American fish (
Clupea vernalis
) of the Herring family. It is called also ellwife
, ellwhop
, branch herring
. The name is locally applied to other related species. Webster 1828 Edition
Alewife
A'LEWIFE
, or A'LOOF,Noun.
An American fish, belonging to the genus Clupea, and called Clupea Serrata. it resembles the herring. The established pronunciation is alewife, plu alewives.