Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Housewife
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 [GREEK].)
[See
Hussy
, in this sense.] 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Housewife
HOUSEWIFE
,Noun.
1.
A female economist; a good manager.2.
One skilled in female business.3.
A little case or bag for articles of female work.Definition 2025
housewife
housewife
English
Noun
housewife (plural housewives) (housewifes for the sense 3)
- A woman, often unemployed, who spends most of her time maintaining the upkeep of her home and tending to household affairs.
- The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household.
- A little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for other articles of female work; – called also hussy.
- 1852: Tom Taylor and Charles Reade, Masks and Faces Act II
- Woffington's housewife, made by herself, homely to the eye, but holds everything in the world
- 1852: Tom Taylor and Charles Reade, Masks and Faces Act II
Coordinate terms
Hypernyms
Derived terms
Translations
female head of household
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case for materials used in sewing
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Verb
housewife (third-person singular simple present housewifes, present participle housewifing, simple past and past participle housewifed)
- Alternative form of housewive