housewife

English

/ˈhaʊs.waɪf/, /ˈhʌzɪf/

noun
Definitions
  • (plural "housewives") A woman whose main employment is homemaking, maintaining the upkeep of her home and tending to household affairs; often, such a woman whose sole [unpaid] employment is homemaking.
  • (plural "housewives") The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household.
  • (plural "housewifes") A little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for other articles of female work.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English housewif affix from English house (a house, company) + English wife (now-obsolete meaning m).

Origin

English

wife

Gloss

now-obsolete meaning m

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms