From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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He a good husband, a good housewife she. --Dryden.
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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.
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3. A hussy. [R.] [Usually written huswife.] --Shak.
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Sailor's housewife, a ditty-bag. Housewife
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Hussy \Hus"sy\, n. [Contr. fr. huswife.]
1. A housewife or housekeeper. [Obs.]
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2. A worthless woman or girl; a forward wench; a jade; --
used as a term of contempt or reproach. --Grew.
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3. A pert girl; a frolicsome or sportive young woman; -- used
jocosely. --Goldsmith.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Hussy \Hus"sy\, n. [From Icel. h?si a case, prob. fr. h?s house.
See House, and cf. Housewife a bag, Huswife a bag.]
A case or bag. See Housewife, 2.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
hussy
n 1: a woman adulterer [syn: adulteress, fornicatress,
hussy, jade, loose woman, slut, strumpet,
trollop]