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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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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