wittol

[ wit-l ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. a man who knows of and tolerates his wife's infidelity.

wittol

/ ˈwɪtəl /

noun

1. obsolete.
   a man who tolerates his wife's unfaithfulness

Word History and Origins

Origin of wittol¹

1400–50; late Middle English wetewold, equivalent to wete wit ² + ( coke ) wold cuckold

Word History and Origins

Origin of wittol¹

C15 wetewold, from witen to know (see wit ²) + -wold, perhaps from cokewold cuckold

Example Sentences

And to think," he said, "that all this time I have thought of him as my pet diversion, my wittol, my moon-calf!

From Project Gutenberg

Other words on the list include "wittol"– a man who tolerates his wife's infidelity, which has not been much used since the 1940s.

From The Guardian

Her conduct may indeed involve his dishonor, if he is what used to be called a wittol, but even then his dishonor is because of his own disgrace.

From Project Gutenberg

Eugène, the hero, a rich and luxurious churchman, is in love with Alix, whom, to save appearances, he has married to a wittol of the name of Guillaume.

From Project Gutenberg

Say, once and always, Luca was a wittol, I am his cutthroat, you are— Ottima.Here's the wine; I brought it when we left the house above,55 And glasses too—wine of both sorts.

From Project Gutenberg