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)

1. A housewife (stay-at-home wife)
2. A housewife (chief woman of the household)
3. (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.