goodwife

goodwife [goo d-wahyf] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural good·wives [goo d-wahyvz] /ˈgʊdˌwaɪvz/.

1. Chiefly Scot. the mistress of a household.
2. (initial capital letter) Archaic. a title of respect for a woman.

Origin of goodwife Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at good, wife Examples from the Web for goodwife Historical Examples of goodwife

Aweel, and I trust he is not at his auld tricks again, goodwife?

St. Ronan’s Well

Sir Walter Scott

There was also present Goodwife Corey, who was subsequently arrested for a witch.

The Witch of Salem

John R. Musick

Here he found the goodwife of the house ‘sitting on a bink.’

King Robert the Bruce

A. F. Murison

Goodwife Tinker was to look to me to-day; I felt very well this morning.

Soldier Rigdale

Beulah Marie Dix

Goodwife Smyth (then a servant there) sayeth she beleeves she was borne 14 of Aprill.

Brief Lives (Vol. 2 of 2)

John Aubrey

British Dictionary definitions for goodwife goodwife noun plural -wives archaic

1. the mistress of a household
2. a woman not of gentle birth: used as a title