"old wife" meaning in English

See old wife in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: old wives [plural]
Etymology: From Middle English ald wyf, eld wiif, olde wyffe. Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|ald wyf}} Middle English ald wyf, {{m|enm|eld wiif}} eld wiif, {{m|enm|olde wyffe}} olde wyffe Head templates: {{en-noun|old wives}} old wife (plural old wives)
  1. An old woman, later especially one who tells old wives' tales. Derived forms: old-wifely, old-wifery, old-wifish, old wives' tale
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-jgtN4YIo
  2. Any of various marine fishes :
    the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-YCZBX8F5
  3. Any of various marine fishes :
    A species of perciform fish endemic to the temperate coastal waters of Australia (Enoplosus armatus)
    Categories (lifeform): Herrings, Jackfish, Percoid fish, Sparids, Tetraodontiforms, Wrasses
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-yLh2HePy Disambiguation of Herrings: 2 7 35 7 7 7 7 7 10 7 3 Disambiguation of Jackfish: 2 6 32 6 6 6 6 6 9 16 5 Disambiguation of Percoid fish: 2 7 34 7 7 7 7 7 10 7 3 Disambiguation of Sparids: 2 7 34 7 7 7 7 7 10 7 3 Disambiguation of Tetraodontiforms: 2 7 35 7 7 7 7 7 10 7 3 Disambiguation of Wrasses: 2 6 27 6 6 6 6 24 8 6 2
  4. Any of various marine fishes :
    Balistes vetula (Queen triggerfish)
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-0paCa0gj
  5. Any of various marine fishes :
    Certain spot-tail porgies (Diplodus ascensionis, Diplodus helenae)
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-VEhSjTx9
  6. Any of various marine fishes :
    Spondyliosoma cantharus (black seabream)
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-lpR3uHQ-
  7. Any of various marine fishes :
    Trachinotus goodei (great pompano)
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-VLfIls~m
  8. Any of various marine fishes :
    A wrasse
    Categories (lifeform): Wrasses
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-E-Dpqa97 Disambiguation of Wrasses: 2 6 27 6 6 6 6 24 8 6 2
  9. Any of various marine fishes :
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-FwWqXjGS
  10. (Canada, US, now rare) The long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis. Tags: Canada, US, archaic Synonyms: oldsquaw, quandy
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-BzwNbZmD Categories (other): American English, Canadian English
  11. (Scotland) A chimney cap to prevent smoking. Tags: Scotland
    Sense id: en-old_wife-en-noun-CYSfhDIP Categories (other): Scottish English

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for old wife meaning in English (5.3kB)

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "ald wyf"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English ald wyf",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "eld wiif"
      },
      "expansion": "eld wiif",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "olde wyffe"
      },
      "expansion": "olde wyffe",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English ald wyf, eld wiif, olde wyffe.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "old wives",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "old wives"
      },
      "expansion": "old wife (plural old wives)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "derived": [
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
          "word": "old-wifely"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
          "word": "old-wifery"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
          "word": "old-wifish"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "91 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0",
          "word": "old wives' tale"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An old woman, later especially one who tells old wives' tales."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-jgtN4YIo",
      "links": [
        [
          "old woman",
          "old woman"
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        [
          "old wives' tale",
          "old wives' tale"
        ]
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    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)"
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-YCZBX8F5",
      "links": [
        [
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        [
          "alewife",
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        ]
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    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "2 7 35 7 7 7 7 7 10 7 3",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Herrings",
          "orig": "en:Herrings",
          "parents": [
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            "Otocephalan fish",
            "Vertebrates",
            "Chordates",
            "Animals",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 6 32 6 6 6 6 6 9 16 5",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Jackfish",
          "orig": "en:Jackfish",
          "parents": [
            "Percoid fish",
            "Fish",
            "Vertebrates",
            "Chordates",
            "Animals",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 7 34 7 7 7 7 7 10 7 3",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Percoid fish",
          "orig": "en:Percoid fish",
          "parents": [
            "Fish",
            "Vertebrates",
            "Chordates",
            "Animals",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 7 34 7 7 7 7 7 10 7 3",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Sparids",
          "orig": "en:Sparids",
          "parents": [
            "Percoid fish",
            "Fish",
            "Vertebrates",
            "Chordates",
            "Animals",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 7 35 7 7 7 7 7 10 7 3",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Tetraodontiforms",
          "orig": "en:Tetraodontiforms",
          "parents": [
            "Fish",
            "Vertebrates",
            "Chordates",
            "Animals",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 6 27 6 6 6 6 24 8 6 2",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Wrasses",
          "orig": "en:Wrasses",
          "parents": [
            "Labroid fish",
            "Fish",
            "Vertebrates",
            "Chordates",
            "Animals",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
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      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-yLh2HePy",
      "links": [
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    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Balistes vetula (Queen triggerfish)"
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-0paCa0gj",
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Certain spot-tail porgies (Diplodus ascensionis, Diplodus helenae)"
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-VEhSjTx9",
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Spondyliosoma cantharus (black seabream)"
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-lpR3uHQ-",
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Trachinotus goodei (great pompano)"
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-VLfIls~m",
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
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    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "2 6 27 6 6 6 6 24 8 6 2",
          "kind": "lifeform",
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            "Animals",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
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        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "A wrasse"
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-E-Dpqa97",
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ],
        [
          "wrasse",
          "wrasse"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Alternative form: oldwife"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Any of various marine fishes"
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-FwWqXjGS",
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "American English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Canadian English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-BzwNbZmD",
      "links": [
        [
          "Canada",
          "Canada"
        ],
        [
          "US",
          "American English"
        ],
        [
          "long-tailed duck",
          "long-tailed duck"
        ],
        [
          "Clangula hyemalis",
          "Clangula hyemalis"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Canada, US, now rare) The long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "oldsquaw"
        },
        {
          "word": "quandy"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Canada",
        "US",
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Scottish English",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A chimney cap to prevent smoking."
      ],
      "id": "en-old_wife-en-noun-CYSfhDIP",
      "links": [
        [
          "chimney cap",
          "chimney cap"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Scotland) A chimney cap to prevent smoking."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Scotland"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "old wife"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "en:Herrings",
    "en:Jackfish",
    "en:Percoid fish",
    "en:Sparids",
    "en:Tetraodontiforms",
    "en:Wrasses"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "old-wifely"
    },
    {
      "word": "old-wifery"
    },
    {
      "word": "old-wifish"
    },
    {
      "word": "old wives' tale"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "ald wyf"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English ald wyf",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "eld wiif"
      },
      "expansion": "eld wiif",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "olde wyffe"
      },
      "expansion": "olde wyffe",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English ald wyf, eld wiif, olde wyffe.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "old wives",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "old wives"
      },
      "expansion": "old wife (plural old wives)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "An old woman, later especially one who tells old wives' tales."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "old woman",
          "old woman"
        ],
        [
          "old wives' tale",
          "old wives' tale"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ],
        [
          "alewife",
          "alewife"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "A species of perciform fish endemic to the temperate coastal waters of Australia (Enoplosus armatus)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa",
        "Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Balistes vetula (Queen triggerfish)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa",
        "Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Certain spot-tail porgies (Diplodus ascensionis, Diplodus helenae)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa",
        "Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Spondyliosoma cantharus (black seabream)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Entries missing English vernacular names of taxa",
        "Entries using missing taxonomic name (species)"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Trachinotus goodei (great pompano)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "A wrasse"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ],
        [
          "wrasse",
          "wrasse"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Alternative form: oldwife"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :",
        "Any of various marine fishes"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "fish",
          "fish"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "Any of various marine fishes :"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "American English",
        "Canadian English",
        "English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Canada",
          "Canada"
        ],
        [
          "US",
          "American English"
        ],
        [
          "long-tailed duck",
          "long-tailed duck"
        ],
        [
          "Clangula hyemalis",
          "Clangula hyemalis"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Canada, US, now rare) The long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "oldsquaw"
        },
        {
          "word": "quandy"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Canada",
        "US",
        "archaic"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Scottish English"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A chimney cap to prevent smoking."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "chimney cap",
          "chimney cap"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Scotland) A chimney cap to prevent smoking."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Scotland"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "old wife"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-03-12 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-03-01 using wiktextract (68773ab and 5f6ddbb). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

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