housewife Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income
woman of the house; lady of the house; homemaker.

House + wife. Cf. Hussy.

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.
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.
A hussy. R. Usually written huswife. Shak.

To manage with skill and economy, as a housewife or other female manager; to economize.
Conferred those moneys on the nuns, which since they have well housewived. Fuller.