Reverse Dictionary: WIFE

ADJECTIVES
► MAMISH uxorious, showing a great or excessive fondness for one’s wife → a1641 obs.
► POLYGYNIC having several wives → 1866
► POLYGYNOUS having several wives → 1874
► UXORIAL pertaining to a wife; characterized by excessive affection for one’s wife; servilely submissive to a wife → 1800
► UXORIOUS excessively or submissively fond of a wife → 1598

NOUNS
► APRON-STRING HOLD a tenure held only during a wife’s life → L17 colloq.
► APRON-STRING TENURE a tenure held only during a wife’s life → L17 colloq.
► BETTER FRACTION one’s wife → World War II Amer. sl.
► JOBLIJOCK anything tending to interfere with domestic comfort or peace, as a scolding wife, a smoking chimney, etc.;  domestic trouble → B1900 Eng. dial.
► MARITALITY excessive affection of a wife for her husband → 1812
► MONOGYNY the practice of having only one wife at a time → 1876
► NONPATIENCE an alleged term for a ‘company’ of wives → 1486 obs.
► PETTICOAT-HOLD a life-interest in a wife’s estate → L18 colloq.

NOUNS – PERSON
► ALL-AND-ALL one’s wife → 1970 Amer. dial.
► ANCHOR one’s wife → 1942 Amer. sl.
► ANCHOR AND CHAIN one’s wife → 1942 Amer. sl.
► ANCIENT DUTCH one’s wife → L19 sl.
► APRON a negative expression for a woman; a wife → 1920s African-American sl.
► ARMFUL a wife → L17 sl.
► BABY a lover; also a spouse; a term of endearment, a darling, a sweetheart or girlfriend; orig. only applied to women  → 1684 colloq.
► BACHELOR’S WIFE the ideal wife of which a bachelor theorizes or dreams → 1546
► BACKLOG a wife → 1970 Amer. dial. jocular
► BALL AND CHAIN one’s wife, esp. if domineering → 1921 US sl.
► BALL CHAIN the wife → Bk1945 jive usage
► BALL-CRUSHER a dominating woman who emasculates her partner, usually a husband → 1970s sl.
► BALL-TEARER an aggressive woman; a nagging woman or wife → Bk1984 Aust. sl.
► BARN BOSS a dominating wife → 1969 Amer. jocular
► BARON AND FEMME a man and his wife → Bk1708
► BAUBLE a childish or foolish person; a silly trifler; a term of contempt applied to a wife or other female → a1606 obs.
► BEDDE a bedfellow; a husband or wife → c1250 obs.
► BEDFELLOW a husband or wife; a spouse; a concubine → 1490 obs.
► BEST GIRL a female sweetheart; a girlfriend; a lover; a wife → 1691
► BEST HALF one’s wife or female partner  → 1904 Aust. sl.
► BETTER HALF a spouse; one’s wife or husband, or, in later use, a partner → 1580
► BETTER THREE-QUARTERS one’s wife or female partner → 1885 sl.
► BIT OF TRIPE one’s wife → Bk1909 UK sl.
► BITCH’S BLIND a homosexual or bisexual man’s heterosexual wife → Bk1972 US homosexual sl.
► BITTER HALF one’s wife or female partner; occasionally used of a husband or male partner → 1847 sl.
► BLADE a wife → 1915 Amer. dial.
► BLOCK AND TACKLE one’s wife, boss, or superior; anyone who can or does restrains one’s actions → Bk1975 US colloq.
► BOSS-LADY one’s wife; a wife who gives the orders; humorous usage → 1966 Amer. dial.
► BOSS-WOMAN one’s wife; a wife who gives the orders; humorous usage → 1966 Amer. dial.
► BROOMSTICK a wife → 1938 Amer. dial.
► BUB an affectionate name for a woman, girlfriend, or wife → 1996 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► BUNDLE a woman; one’s wife → 1904 Amer. dial.
► BURERK ► BURICK a wife → M19 sl.
► CAP AND BUTTON a woman whose husband is a nonentity → 1887 Eng. dial.
► CARVING KNIFE a wife → 2003 UK rhyming sl.
► CATALOG WOMAN a wife obtained through a matrimonial bureau → 1928 Amer. dial.
► CHICKIE a term of endearment; one’s wife or sweetheart → 1966 Amer. dial.
► CLARTY-PAPS a filthy, slatternly woman or wife → 19C Eng. dial.
► COMPANION a wife → 1893 Amer. dial.
► COOLER a woman, esp. a wife as opposed to a mistress or lover → E17 sl.
► COPEMATE ► COPESMATE a partner in marriage; a husband or wife → 1631 obs.
► CROOKED RIB a cross-grained wife → Bk1903 sl.
► DAAM ► DAME the mistress of a house; a wife, esp. the wife of a farmer or yeoman → 1740 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► DARBY AND JOAN a jocose name for an attached husband and wife who are ‘all in all to each other’, esp. in advanced years and in humble life → 1773
► DRUM AND FIFE a wife → 2003 UK rhyming sl.
► DUCHESS a wife → 1895 Brit. sl.
► DUCHESS OF FIFE a wife → 1961 UK rhyming sl.
► DUTCH a wife → 1889 Brit. sl.
► EVER-LOVING one’s wife → 1930s US sl.
► EVIL one’s wife → E19 sl.
► FAIR LADY a woman who is the object of one’s love or devotion; a man’s wife or partner → a1470
► FIFTH WHEEL one’s wife → 1968 Amer. dial.
► FORK AND KNIFE a wife → 20C rhyming sl.
► GAD► GADSI a wife → Bk1860 gypsy usage
► GIRL a sweetheart; a girlfriend; a wife → a1513
► GOODWIFE the mistress of a house; a wife → 1804 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► GOOD WOMAN one who spares her tongue, gives her husband’s ears a holiday → Bk1823 sl.
► GREY MARE, THE a wife who rules her husband → 1645
► GRISEL ► GRISSELL ► GRIZEL ► GRIZZEL ► GRIZZLE a meek, patient wife → 1565
► HALF-MARROW a husband or wife; a spouse → 1637 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► HALF-WIDOW a wife whose husband is lazy and thriftless, and fails to properly provide for her necessities → B1900 Amer.
► HAMALD a ‘haaf-word’ for wife → 1897 Sc.
► HATCHET one’s wife → 1969 Amer. dial.
► HAY WIDOW a woman separated from her husband, either permanently or temporarily, for some reason other than death → 1931 Amer. dial.
► HEART-AND-HAND WOMAN a wife obtained through a matrimonial agency → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► HER INDOORS a wife or other live-in female partner, often with the implication of a domineering woman → 1979 Brit. sl.
► HOT PATOOTIE a sweetheart or wife → 1935 Amer. dial.
► HOUSE-FELLOW a wife → 1866 Eng. dial.
► HUGS (AND KISSES) a wife → 1992 UK rhyming sl. for ‘missus’
► HURRICANE ON A TEN-CENT PIECE a wife furious with her husband → 1995 Can.
► I-BEDDE a bedfellow; a wife; a husband → a1250
► ICE WIDOW a woman whose husband is in Antarctica → 1971 NZ sl. 
► IMPORTANCE a wife → 1647 sl.
► INCUBATOR a wife → 1900s Aust. sl.
► INFERIOR HALF one’s wife or partner; generally in jocular use → L19 sl. 
► JAM-TART a wife or mistress → Bk1896 sl.
► JIFFESS an employer’s wife → Bk1896 tailors’ sl.
► JUDY a woman; a wife; a girlfriend → 1885 sl.
► JUNO a woman resembling the goddess Juno in qualities ascribed to her; a woman of stately beauty; a jealous wife, etc. → 1606
► KICKIE-WICKIE a jocular or ludicrous term for a wife → 1601 obs. rare
► LACKIN a wife → M19 sl.
► LADY a wife, a consort → c1390
► LADY JANE a common-law wife or girlfriend → 1987 Can. sl.
► LAKEN ► LAKIN a wife → M19 sl.
► LAUNDRESS one’s wife → 1996 Amer. dial., usually humorous (Bk.)
► LAWFUL BLANKET a wife → 19C sl.
► LAWFUL JAM a wife → L19 Brit. sl.
► LAWFULLY LADY one’s legal wife → M19 African-American sl.
► LAWYERESS the wife of a lawyer; a female lawyer → 1835
► LEFT-FOREPART a wife → M19 Brit. tailors’ sl.
► LEMAN a husband or wife → c1250 arch.
► LESSER HALF one’s wife → 1965 Amer. sl.
► LITTLE CHICKEN a wife → 1966 Amer. dial.
► LUCKY a woman of any age, esp. a wife or mistress → 1629 Sc.
► MADAM ► MADAME the mistress of a household; one’s wife → 1863 Amer. dial.
► MAGGIE RAB ► MAGGIE ROB ► MAGGIE ROBB a nagging, unpleasant wife → 19C Sc.
► MAIN QUEEN the present girlfriend; the wife → 1944 Amer. sl.
► MAKE of humans: a husband or wife; a lover or mistress → a1240 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► MAMA ► MAMMA a girlfriend or wife, esp. in direct address → 1910s sl., orig. African-American
► MAMMY a wife → 1989 Amer. dial.
► MARRIAGE a person viewed as a prospective husband or wife; a (good or bad) match → 1523
► MARROW a husband or wife → a1578 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
► MAT a woman, a wife → L18 colloq.
► MATCH a husband or wife; a mate, a consort, a lover; also, said of animals → a831 obs.
► MISSES ► MISSIS ► MISSUS one’s wife; the mistress of the household → 1833 sl.
► MISSUS the wife of the owner or manager of a sheep station → M19 Aust. sl.
► MOIETY one’s wife or husband → 1611 humorous usage, obs.
► MOILLERE a wife, a woman → Bk1888 obs.
► MOLL orig., a girl or woman; one’s wife or sweetheart ; a tough or rowdy young woman → 1753
► MOLLISHER a woman; a low-class girl or woman; one living in concubinage; a female cohabiting with a man, who jointly get their living by thieving; a thief’s mistress; a wife → 1812 sl.
► MOMMA a girlfriend or wife → 1926 US sl.
► MONOGYNIST a person who practices or advocates monogyny (having only one wife at a time) → 1895
► MORROW a companion; a husband or wife → Bk1866 Sc. & Ireland
► MORTAR PIECE a wife → 1659 UK sl.
► MOT ► MOTT ► MOTTE one’s girlfriend, one’s wife → Bk1785 orig. cant
► MOTHER one’s wife → 1925 sl.
► MOTHER-WIFE a wife and mother → 1869 Sc.
► MOUNT a wife or mistress → c1856 Brit. sl.
► MOUSE ones wife → 19C African-American sl.
► MRS. a wife → 1920 sl.
► MRS., THE a wife, one’s wife → 1821 Amer. dial.
► MUM one’s mistress of many years, or one’s wife, but not one’s actual mother → 1930s UK criminals’ sl.
► MY OLD MOTHER OF PEARL my wife → 1960 UK rhyming sl. for ‘old girl’
► NABOBESS a female nabob; the wife of a rich man, esp. of one who had made his fortune in India → 1767 
► NEIGHBOUR a husband or wife → Bk1905 Sc.
► NIGDA a grumbling wife → 1928 Sc. 
► O.G. a woman, esp. one’s mother or wife (Old Girl) → 1878 US jocular usage
► OLD BALL AND CHAIN, THE the wife → 1996 Aust. sl., derogatory (Bk.)
► OLD BLADE one’s wife → 1915 Amer. dial.
► OLD CURIOSITY one’s wife → 1929 sl.
► OLD DEAR one’s wife → 1898
► OLD DUTCH a wife → 1889 Brit. sl. 
► OLD GAL one’s wife or regular female companion → M19 sl.
► OLD GEEZER, THE one’s wife → 1910s sl.
► OLD GIRL one’s wife or regular female companion; also, a term of address → 1834
► OLD GRABEM PUDDEN an old woman, whether one’s wife or mother → L19 rhyming sl
► OLD LADY a wife, regardless of age → 1836 US sl.
► OLD MOTHER OF PEARL, THE a wife; my wife → 1960 UK rhyming sl. for ‘old girl’
► OLD ONE, THE one’s mother or wife → 1806 chiefly Irish
► OLD POT AND PAN ‘old woman’; wife, woman → M19 rhyming sl.
► OLD WOMAN one’s wife → 1722
► OLE GIRL one’s wife or regular female companion → M19 sl.
► ORDINARY one’s wife → 1900 sl.
► OTHER HALF one’s wife → 1965 Amer. sl.
► PATOOTIE a sweetheart or wife → 1921 Amer. dial.
► PENELOPE a chaste and faithful wife → 1581
► PILLOW-MATE a wife; a mistress; a harlot → 19C  colloq.
► PLASTER one’s wife → 20C Irish sl.
► PLATES (AND DISHES) a wife → 1960 UK rhyming sl. for ‘missis’
► POLYANDRIST a woman who has two or more husbands or male sexual partners at the same time → 1833
► QUARE ONE the wife → 1997 Ireland sl.
► QUEEN a beautiful young woman; a man’s wife; a companion; a sweetheart; a girlfriend; a lover → 1900s sl. African-American sl.
► QUEEN BEE a person, usually a woman, in a position of authority or dominance; a domineering woman or wife → 1930 Amer. dial.
► QUILT a wife → M19 US sl.
► RIB a wife → 1609 sl.
► RUNNING MATE a cowboy’s wife → 1945 US Western usage (Bk.)
► SISTER-WIFE a wife who is also the sister of her husband → 1743
► SMALL HALF one’s wife → 1965 Amer. sl.
► SPARRING PARTNER a friend; a companion; a husband or wife → 1995 sl. 
► SPERRIB a wife → L19 UK middle class usage
► SPLICE one’s wife → E19 sl.
► SPORTING LIFE a wife 20C rhyming sl.
► SPOUSESS a female spouse, a wife, a bride, a married woman → 1388 obs.
► SQUAW one’s wife; a woman → 1934 US sl.
► STICKING PLASTER one’s wife → 20C Irish sl.
► SWEET PATOOTIE a sweetheart or wife → 1924 Amer. dial.
► SWISS ARMY (KNIFE) a wife → 1998 UK rhyming sl.
► TANNIKIN a maid, wife, whore, or widow → 1605 sl.
► TART a girl or woman; someone’s girlfriend or wife; not used in any derogatory sense → 1864 sl.
► TARTAR an ill-natured, shrewish woman, a scolding wife, a vixen, a termagant → 1663 
► TROUBLE AND STRIFE a wife → 1908 rhyming sl.
► UGS a wife → 1992 UK rhyming sl. for ‘missus’ (‘hugs and kisses’)
► VENTER one or other of two or more wives who are (successively or otherwise) sources of offspring to the same person → 1544
► WAHEENIE ► WAHINE ► WAHINI a female; specifically a woman; a wife → 1833 Hawaii usage
► WANTER one wanting a husband or wife; an unmarried person; a bachelor, a widower → 1723 Eng. dial.
► WAR (AND STRIFE) one’s wife → 1930 rhyming sl. 
► WARDEN a wife → 20C US sl.
► WAR DEPARTMENT a wife → 1942 Amer. jocular usage
► WAR HORSE a wife → 1965 Amer. jocular usage
► WAR SECRETARY a wife → 1965 Amer. jocular usage
► WEBB a wife → 1672 Algonquian
► WEDFELLOW a spouse, either husband or wife → B1900
► WIFELKIN an affection form of address for a wife → 1851 colloq.
► WIFE-WIDOW a wife living apart from her husband → 1875 nonce word
► WIFEY ► WIFIE a little wife; a little or young woman; chiefly used as a term of endearment or familiarity → L18
► WIFF the wife → 1926 US sl. (Bk.)
► WOMEN FOLKS a wife → 1907 Amer. dial.
► WORRY AND STRIFE one’s wife → 1930s rhyming sl.
► WORSE HALF ► WORST HALF one’s wife → 1965 Amer. sl.
► WYFOCKIE a little wife; a little woman; generally used as a term of endearment → 1825 Sc.
► XANTIPPE ► ZENTIPPE the wife of Socrates; hence, an ill-tempered woman or wife; a shrew; a scold → 1596
► X.Y.L. n. a wife; ‘ex-young-lady’ → 1976 US sl.
► YOCKFELLOW ► YOKEFELLOW a person joined in marriage to another; a spouse; a husband or wife → 1545
► YOKE-MATE a person joined in marriage to another; a spouse; a husband or wife → 1567
► YOUNG LADY a female lover or sweetheart; a girlfriend; a (young) wife or fiancée → 1584

NOUNS – PERSON – OTHER
► MONOGYNIST a person who has only one wife at a time → 1895
► POLYGAMIST a person who practises or favours polygamy; a man who has several wives at one time → 1637
► POLYGYNIST a man who has several wives → 1876

PHRASES
► ANYTHING FOR A QUIET WIFE catchphrase meaning exactly what it says → 1977 UK sl.
► AS LONG AS I CAN BUY MILK I SHALL NOT KEEP A COW why go to the expense of a wife so long as I can visit a whore? → 17C
► GOOD JACK MAKES A GOOD JILL, A a good husband makes a good wife; a good master makes a good servant; if one partner treats the other well, he or she will be treated well in turn → 1784
► GREY MARE IS THE BETTER HORSE, THE said of one whose wife wears the breeches; the wife rules the husband → 1546

VERBS
► CRY ONE’S WIFE DOWN to disown all the debts of one’s wife in a newspaper ad → 1996 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► DIVIDE THE HOUSE WITH ONE’S WIFE to throw one’s wife onto the streets → L18 sl.
► GO TO VISIT ONE’S UNCLE to abandon one’s wife shortly after the marriage ceremony → L18 sl.
► I -WIVE to take a wife; to marry → c1000 obs.
► LIVE UNDER THE CAT’S FOOT to be henpecked; to live under a wife’s control → B1900
► SPOON THE BURICK to pay attentions to one’s best friend’s wife or girlfriend → L19 sl.