Housewife \House"wife`\, Housewive \House"wive`\, v. t. To manage with skill and economy, as a housewife or other female manager; to economize. [1913 Webster]

Conferred those moneys on the nuns, which since they have well housewived. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Housewife \House"wife`\, n. [House + wife. Cf. Hussy.]

1. The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

He a good husband, a good housewife she. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. (Usually pronounced ?.) [See Hussy, in this sense.]

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. [1913 Webster]

3. A hussy. [R.]

[Usually written huswife.]

--Shak. [1913 Webster]

Sailor's housewife, a ditty-bag. Housewife

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Huswife \Hus"wife\, n. [OE. huswif; hus house + wif wife. Cf. Hussy a housewife, Housewife.]

[Written also housewife.]

1. A female housekeeper; a woman who manages domestic affairs; a thirfty woman. "The bounteous huswife Nature." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The huswife is she that do labor doth fall. --Tusser. [1913 Webster]

2. A worthless woman; a hussy. [Obs.]

--Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. [See Hussy a bag.]

A case for sewing materials. See Housewife. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

housewife

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Housewife \House"wife`\, n. [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 ?.) [See Hussy, in this sense.]

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Housewife \House"wife`\, Housewive \House"wive`\, v. t. 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 Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Huswife \Hus"wife\, n. [OE. huswif; hus house + wif wife. Cf. Hussy a housewife, Housewife.]

[Written also housewife.]

1. A female housekeeper; a woman who manages domestic affairs; a thirfty woman. ``The bounteous huswife Nature.'' --Shak.

The huswife is she that do labor doth fall. --Tusser.

2. A worthless woman; a hussy. [Obs.]

--Shak.

3. [See Hussy a bag.]

A case for sewing materials. See Housewife. --Cowper.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)