Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            He a good husband, a good housewife she. --Dryden.

   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.

   3. A hussy. [R.] [Usually written {huswife}.] --Shak.

   {Sailor's housewife}, a ditty-bag.