old-wife

An old-wife sits in a rocking chair knitting a colorful scarf.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of fish: "old-wife" refers to a marine fish, specifically Alosa alosa (also known as allis shad) or similar species, sometimes used in a derogatory or colloquial sense.
   • A derogatory term for an elderly woman: In older or dialectal usage, "old-wife" can mean a gossipy or shrewish old woman, though this is now rare and considered offensive.

Usage Examples

• Noun (fish):

  • The fishermen caught several old-wives during the spring run. (A type of fish, specifically allis shad.)
  • Old-wife is known for its bony flesh and is often smoked. (The fish species used for food.)

• Noun (derogatory term):

  • The old-wife down the street was always spreading rumours. (A gossipy elderly woman, used in a pejorative sense.)

Advanced Usage

• "old-wife's tale": a traditional belief or superstition, often unscientific, associated with elderly women.
  • She dismissed the advice as an old-wife's tale. (A folk belief considered outdated or false.)

Variants and Related Words

• Old-wifish (adj): resembling or characteristic of an old wife (rare, often used in a derogatory manner).

  • His old-wifish complaints annoyed everyone. (Complaints typical of a fussy elderly person.)

• Old-wifery (n): the behaviour or talk of an old wife (rare, archaic).

  • The meeting was full of old-wifery and gossip. (Idle talk or superstition.)

Synonyms

• Fish: allis shad, alose (specific species).
• Woman: crone (derogatory), gossip (as a person, derogatory).

Related Idioms

• "old-wife's tale": as above, a folk belief or superstition.
  • Don't believe that old-wife's tale about the full moon. (A traditional but unscientific belief.)

Notes on Usage

• The term "old-wife" is largely archaic or dialectal in its human reference. Modern usage avoids it due to its pejorative and ageist connotations. The fish sense is more specific to ichthyology and regional fishing vocabulary.