'Housewife' definitions:

Definition of 'housewife'

noun

A wife who manages a household while her husband earns the family income [syn: housewife, homemaker, lady of the house, woman of the house]

From: 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. [1913 Webster]
He a good husband, a good housewife she. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
3. A hussy. [R.] [Usually written huswife.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Sailor's housewife, a ditty-bag. Housewife

From: GCIDE

Housewife \House"wife`\, Housewive \House"wive`\, v. t. To manage with skill and economy, as a housewife or other female manager; to economize. [1913 Webster]
Conferred those moneys on the nuns, which since they have well housewived. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Huswife \Hus"wife\, n. [OE. huswif; hus house + wif wife. Cf. Hussy a housewife, Housewife.] [Written also housewife.]
1. A female housekeeper; a woman who manages domestic affairs; a thirfty woman. "The bounteous huswife Nature." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The huswife is she that do labor doth fall. --Tusser. [1913 Webster]
2. A worthless woman; a hussy. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. [See Hussy a bag.] A case for sewing materials. See Housewife. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]