goodwife

Etymology

From Middle English goodwyf, godwyf, godwif, equivalent to good + wife.

noun

  1. A female head of a household.“"O my lord the Sultan," said the other [the Wazir], "verily women be weakly of wits, and haply this goodwife cometh hither to complain before thee against her goodman or some of her people."”
  2. A title of respect for a woman.“Goodwife Hopkins”
  3. A title of respect for a woman“Goodwife Hopkins”