huswife
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Tusser's huswife, warned by the matin cock, called up her maids and men at four in the summer, at five in the winter.
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American Heritage Dictionary
Century Dictionary (4)
- A housewife. Sith th' onely Spider teacheth every one The Husbands and the Huswifes function. For, for their food the valiant Male doth roam; The cunning Female tends her work at home. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 7. The poore husbandmans baken, halfe lost for lacke of a good huswifes looking too. Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 113. It was the hour when huswife morn With pearl and linen hangs each thorn. Churchill, The Ghost.
- A pert, wilful woman or girl; a hussy. See hussy, 2. If she should yeelde at the first assault, he would thinke hir a light huswife. Lyly, Euphues, Anat. of Wit, p. 74. Why should you dare to imagine me So light a huswife that, from four hours' knowledge, You might presume to offer to my credit This rude and ruffian trial? Beau. and Fl., Coxcomb, iii.
- To manage with economy and frugality: said of a woman. But huswifing the little Heaven had lent, She duly paid a groat for quarter rent. Dryden, Cock and Fox, l. 9.
GNU Webster's 1913 (2)
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View all » Examples
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Tusser's huswife, warned by the matin cock, called up her maids and men at four in the summer, at five in the winter.
— In a Green Shade A Country Commentary -
Tusser is clear about the value and sanction at once Thus doing and keeping such custom and guise They call thee good huswife--they love thee likewise Those days are past and done, with much to regret and much to be thankful for.
— In a Green Shade A Country Commentary -
_Ergo_, my daughter told him that if he was seeking for a huswife she wondered that he lost his time in riding to
— Maria Schweidler die Bernsteinhexe. English -
Ah, well said, Trotter; teach her to play the good huswife, and thou shalt have her to thy wife, if thou canst get her good will.
— Fair Em -
_Ergo_, my daughter told him that if he was seeking for a huswife she wondered that he lost his time in riding to Coserow to no purpose, for that she knew of no huswife for him there, which vexed him so sore that he never came again.
— Sidonia, the Sorceress : the Supposed Destroyer of the Whole Reigning Ducal House of Pomerania — Volume 2
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