huswife

English

Etymology

From Middle English, equivalent to house +‎ wife. See also hussy.

Noun

huswife (plural huswifes)

1. (obsolete) A housewife.
2. (obsolete) A worthless woman; hussy.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy:

     He cals her on a sudden, all to naught; she is a strumpet, a light huswife, a bitch, an arrant whore.

3. A small case containing scissors, thread, needles, and other sewing things.
   • 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, chapter 38:

     And for my part, I was all in a fright for fear your sister should ask us for the huswifes she had gave us a day or two before; but however, nothing was said about them, and I took care to keep mine out of sight.

   • 1815, Jane Austen, Emma, volume 2, chapter 1:

     I was sure it could not be far off; but I had put my huswife upon it, you see, without being aware, and so it was quite hid, but I had it in my hand so very lately that I was almost sure it must be on the table.

Verb

huswife (third-person singular simple present huswifes, present participle huswifing, simple past and past participle huswifed)

1. (said of a woman) To manage with frugality.