See Also: wife(medicine)
old wife(dictionary)
wife(1)(dictionary)
wife(2)(dictionary)
Lot's wife(dictionary)
wife(dictionary)
Wife of Bath, the(dictionary)

old wife (iou)



old wife noun phr. . ME.
[from OLD adjective + WIFE noun.]
An old woman. Now usu. derog. ME.
old wives' tale an old but foolish story or belief.
Any of various marine fishes, as (a) a wrasse; (b) the black sea bream, Spondyliosoma cantharus; (c) the queen trigger fish, Balistes vetula; (d) Enoplosus armatus, a brown and white striped fish with pink fins, of Australasian coasts. L16.
The long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis. Cf. old squaw s.v. OLD adjective. M17.
A cap or cowl to prevent a chimney from smoking. Scot. M19.
old-wifish adjective M16.