goodwife
[
g
oo
d
-wahyf]
/ˈgʊdˌwaɪf/
noun
,
plural
goodwives
[
g
oo
d
-wahyvz]
/ˈgʊdˌwaɪvz/
(
Show IPA
)
1.
Chiefly Scot.
the mistress of a household.
2.
(
initial capital letter
)
Archaic.
a title of respect for a woman.
Origin
1275-1325;
Middle English;
see
good
,
wife
British Dictionary definitions for
goodwife
goodwife
/
ˈɡʊdˌwaɪf
/
noun
(
archaic
) (
pl
)
-wives
1.
the mistress of a household
2.
a woman not of gentle birth: used as a title