fishwife

[fish-wahyf]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fishwife ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural fish·wives.

a woman who sells fish.

a coarse-mannered, vulgar-tongued woman.

Origin of fishwife

First recorded in 1375–1425, fishwife is from the late Middle English word fisshwyf. See fish, wife

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for fishwife

shrew, biddy, beldam, virago, Jezebel, vixen, fury, slattern, harpy, bag, harridan, witch, sorceress, crone, battle-ax, ogress, gorgon, termagant, Medusa, fishwife

Examples from the Web for fishwife

Historical Examples of fishwife

A longshoreman wouldn't have called a fishwife what I called you, you blessed child.
In a Little Town
Rupert Hughes
“But sure, they are our fellow-creatures, brother Shane,” exclaimed the fishwife.
The Heir of Kilfinnan
W.H.G. Kingston
Patrick was summoned, and with his father and the fishwife, the boat was launched.
The Heir of Kilfinnan
W.H.G. Kingston
The boy was placed at the helm, and the fishwife and her brother took the oars.
The Heir of Kilfinnan
W.H.G. Kingston
In another Moment, except Help come, the Fishwife will be no more.
A Tramp Abroad, Complete
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

British Dictionary definitions for fishwife

fishwife

noun plural -wives

a woman who sells fish

a coarse scolding woman

Derived Formsfishwifely, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fishwife

1520s, from fish (n.) + wife in the "woman" sense.