goodwife

American  

[good-wahyf] / ˈgʊdˌwaɪf /

noun

PLURAL

goodwives

1. Chiefly Scot.  the mistress of a household.

2. (initial capital letter)  a title of respect for a woman.

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goodwife British  

/ ˈɡʊdˌwaɪf /

noun

1. the mistress of a household

2. a woman not of gentle birth: used as a title

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Etymology

Origin of goodwife

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; good, wife

Example Sentences

Another accused Boston witch, known as Goodwife Ann Glover or Goody Glover, was hanged in the city in 1688.

From Seattle Times

“A married woman of middling status was usually called Goodwife or Dame, while lower-status women didn’t get any honorific at all.”

From New York Times

Then my father looked in at the door and said, "'Tis time, goodwife, for young folks to be abed."

From Project Gutenberg

Goodwife Parmenter, however, died in 1683, in full possession of the warming pan, the widow of the third husband.

From Project Gutenberg

The goodman and two or three topers were on their feet having a last crack, the goodwife from her bed above was demanding lustily why they lingered, when the girl, breathless and dishevelled, her hair hanging about her face, appeared on the threshold.

From Project Gutenberg