oldwife


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old·wife

 (ōld′wīf′)
n. pl. old·wives (-wīvz′)
2. Any of various fishes such as the alewife and the menhaden.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

oldwife

(ˈəʊldˌwaɪf)
n, pl -wives
1. (Animals) another name for old squaw
2. (Animals) any of various fishes, esp the menhaden or the alewife
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

old•wife

(ˈɒldˌwaɪf)

n., pl. -wives.
1. any of various fishes, as the alewife or menhaden.
[1580–90]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.oldwife - tropical Atlantic fisholdwife - tropical Atlantic fish    
triggerfish - any of numerous compressed deep-bodied tropical fishes with sandpapery skin and erectile spines in the first dorsal fin
Balistes, genus Balistes - type genus of the Balistidae
2.oldwife - a common long-tailed sea duck of the northern parts of the United Statesoldwife - a common long-tailed sea duck of the northern parts of the United States
sea duck - any of various large diving ducks found along the seacoast: eider; scoter; merganser
Clangula, genus Clangula - a genus of ducks
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
It puts me in mind of the oldwife's tale which was current when I was a boy, of a surefire cure for a severe and persistent headache.