houswyf

Middle English

Alternative forms

hosewif, hoswif, hoswyf, housewif, houswif, houswife, houswyff, howsewyf, husewif, husewyfe, huswif, huswife, huswijf, huswyf, huswyfe, huswyff, hwswife

Etymology

From hous (“house, home”) +‎ wyf (“wife, woman”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈhuːzˌwiːf/, /ˈhuzˌwiːf/, /ˈhuzwif/

Noun

houswyf (plural houswyves)

A housewife (stay-at-home wife)
A housewife (chief woman of the household)
(rare) A housekeeper at a poorhouse.

Descendants

English: housewife, hussy
→ Latin: hūswīva

References

“hǒus-wī̆f, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

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