alewife

(āl′wīf′)

a woman who keeps an alehouse
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Origin: < ?
a NW Atlantic clupeid fish (Alosa pseudoharengus) that swims up rivers to spawn in the spring: used for food and in fertilizers

See alewife in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ale·wives (-wīvzˌ)

A fish (Alosa pseudoharengus) closely related to the herrings and native to North American Atlantic waters and some inland lakes.

Origin:

Origin: Probably alteration (influenced by alewife²)

Origin: of obsolete allowes, a type of shad

Origin: , from French alose, shad

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Late Latin alausa

noun pl. ale·wives (-wīvzˌ)

A woman who keeps an alehouse.

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