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The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the female head of a household. Shak. He a good husband, a good housewife she. Dryden.

To manage with skill and economy, as a housewife or other female manager; to economize. Conferred those moneys on the nuns, which since they have well housewived. Fuller.

Pertaining or appropriate to a housewife; domestic; economical; prudent. A good sort of woman, ladylike and housewifely. Sir W. Scott.

The business of the mistress of a family; female management of domestic concerns.

The work belonging to housekeeping; especially, kitchen work, sweeping, scrubbing, bed making, and the like.

A builder of houses.

A house where ale is retailed; hence, a tippling house. Macaulay.

A house appropriated for the use of the poor; a poorhouse.

A building comprising a number of suites designed for separate housekeeping tenements, but having conveniences, such as heat, light, elevator service, etc., furnished in common; -- often distinguished in the United States from a flat house.

A place for children's dolls and dolls' furniture. Swift.

A building behind the main building. Specifically: A privy; a necessary.

A house for baking; a bakery.

A house of prostitution; a house of ill fame; a brothel.

An almshouse for poor people who pray daily for their benefactors.

,n.Same as Beadhouse.

A house for bees; an apiary.

A house where malt liquors are sold; an alehouse.

A house of squared logs. [West. & South. U. S.]

A house for sheltering boats. Half the latticed boathouse hides. Wordsworth.

A house or building appropriated to brewing; a brewery.