housewife

4 definitions found

housewife - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Housewife \House"wife`\, Housewive \House"wive`\, v. t.
     To manage with skill and economy, as a housewife or other
     female manager; to economize.
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           Conferred those moneys on the nuns, which since they
           have well housewived.                    --Fuller.
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  Housewife \House"wife`\, n. [House + wife. Cf. Hussy.]
     1. The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the
        female head of a household. --Shak.
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              He a good husband, a good housewife she. --Dryden.
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     2. (Usually pronounced ?.) [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.
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     3. A hussy. [R.] [Usually written huswife.] --Shak.
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     Sailor's housewife, a ditty-bag. Housewife

  Huswife \Hus"wife\, n. [OE. huswif; hus house + wif wife. Cf.
     Hussy a housewife, Housewife.] [Written also
     housewife.]
     1. A female housekeeper; a woman who manages domestic
        affairs; a thirfty woman. "The bounteous huswife Nature."
        --Shak.
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              The huswife is she that do labor doth fall.
                                                    --Tusser.
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     2. A worthless woman; a hussy. [Obs.] --Shak.
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     3. [See Hussy a bag.] A case for sewing materials. See
        Housewife. --Cowper.
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housewife - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  housewife
      n 1: a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the
           family income [syn: housewife, homemaker, lady of the house
           , woman of the house]