The string with which an apron is tied on. Apron-string hold or tenure: tenure of property in virtue of one’s wife, or during her life-time only. Tied to the apron-strings (of a mother, wife, etc.): unduly controlled by her, wholly under her influence.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apophth., 118. As wise as a gooce, or as wise as her mothers aperen string.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 67. Apron-string tenure is very weak.
1750. Ellis, Mod. Husb., VI. ii. 118. [A man] being possessed of a house and large orchard by apron-string-hold, felled almost all his fruit trees, because he every day expected the death of his sick wife.
1804. Mrs. Barbauld, Richardson, I. 160. All her fortune in her own power—a very apron-string tenure.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 649. He could not submit to be tied to the apron strings even of the best of wives.
