HOUSEWIFE

housewife, homemaker, lady of the house, woman of the house

(noun) a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

housewife (plural housewives or housewifes) (see notes below about plurals)

(plural "housewives") A woman whose main employment is homemaking, maintaining the upkeep of her home and tending to household affairs; often, such a woman whose sole [unpaid] employment is homemaking.

Synonym: henhussy (archaic)

Hypernym: homemaker

Coordinate term: househusband

(plural "housewives") The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household.

(plural "housewifes") A little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for other articles of female work.

Synonym: hussy

Verb

housewife (third-person singular simple present housewifes, present participle housewifing, simple past and past participle housewifed)

Alternative form of housewive

Source: Wiktionary

House"wife`, n. Etym: [House + wife. Cf. Hussy.]

1. 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.

2. (Usually pronounced Etym: [See Hussy, in this sense.]

Definition: 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.

3. A hussy. [R.] [Usually written huswife.] Shak. Sailor's housewife, a ditty-bag.

House"wife`, House"wive`, v. t.

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition