adj. (old: now recognised).—Petticoat government; ruled by a woman.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HENPECKT Friggat, whose Commander and Officers are absolutely sway’d by their Wives. Ibid. HENPECKT Husband, whose Wife wears the Breeches.
1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, iv., 13. I believe he that marries you will go to sea in a HEN-PECKED FRIGATE.
1712. ARBUTHNOT, The History of John Bull, Pt. I., ch. v. He had a termagant wife, and, as the neighbours said, was playing HENPECKED!
1712. Spectator, No. 479. Socrates, who is by all accounts the undoubted head of the sect of the HEN-PECKED.
1748. T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). HEN-PECKED, a man that is over-awed by his wife, and dares do nothing disagreeable to her inclinations.
1771. SMOLLETT, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, l. 27. I shall never presume to despise or censure any poor man for suffering himself to be HENPECKED, conscious how I myself am obliged to truckle to a domestic demon.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. xxxvii. He had fallen from all the height and pomp of beadleship, to the lowest depth of the most snubbed HEN-PECKERY.
1857. A. TROLLOPE, Barchester Towers, ch. iii. But Mrs. Proudie is not satisfied with such home dominion, and stretches her power over all his movements, and will not even abstain from things spiritual. In fact, the bishop is HEN-PECKED.
