I. ˈhau̇ˌswīf or especially in sense 2 ˈhəzə̇f or ˈhəsə̇f noun
( plural house·wives -īvz, -ə̇fs)
Etymology: Middle English houswif, from hous house + wif woman, wife — more at house , wife
1. : a married woman in charge of a household ; specifically : a married woman who occupies herself with the domestic affairs of her household and who engages in no employment for pay or profit
2. : a pocket-size container (as a bag or roll of cloth) for carrying small articles (as thread, needles, scissors) — called also hussy
II. ˈhau̇ˌswīf verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
archaic : to manage with skill and economy : husband
intransitive verb
archaic : economize