Housewife
Housewife , noun
[House + wife. Compare Hussy.]
1.
The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household. — Shakespeare
He a good husband, a good housewife she.
2.
A little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for other articles of female work; -- called also hussy. — P. Skelton
3.
A hussy. [Rare] — Shakespeare
Collocations (1)
Sailor's housewife , a ditty-bag.
Housewife , transitive verb
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.
Also: Housewive