GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 2 definitions
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Alewife , n.; pl. Alewives . A woman who keeps an alehouse.Gay.1913 Webster
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Alewife, n.; pl. Alewives. [This word is properly aloof, the Indian name of a fish. See Winthrop on the culture of maize in America, “Phil Trans.” No. 142, p. 1065, and Baddam's “Memoirs,” vol. ii. p. 131.] (Zool.) A North American fish (Clupea vernalis) of the Herring family. It is called also ellwife, ellwhop, branch herring. The name is locally applied to other related species.1913 Webster