[ALE- 4 + WIFE in sense of woman.] A woman that keeps an ale-house.

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1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. IX. 330. Þe best and brounest · þat brewesters [v.r. c. 1400 ale-wiuys] sellen.

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a. 1500.  Carp. Tools, 43, in Hazl., E. P. P., I. 81. He wones to nyȝe the ale-wyffe.

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1587.  Harrison, England, I. II. vi. 161. Such slights also have the alewives for the utterance of this drinke.

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1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., Ind. ii. 23. Aske Marrian Hacket the fat Alewife of Wincot, if shee know me not.

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1663.  Flagel., O. Cromwell (1672), 17. The Ale-wives of Huntingdon … when they saw him coming would use to cry out to one another, shut up your Dores.

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1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, France & It., I. 17. A flat silver ring on her finger, like our ale-wives.

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1865.  T. Wright, Caricature of Grot., viii. 139. The ale-wife is pouring her liquor from her jug.

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