Meaning of old wife | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An old woman, later especially one who tells old wives' tales.
2. Any of various marine fishes :
3. the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus)
4. A species of perciform fish endemic to the temperate coastal waters of Australia (Enoplosus armatus)
5. Balistes vetula (Queen triggerfish)
6. Certain spot-tail porgies (Diplodus ascensionis, Diplodus helenae)
7. Spondyliosoma cantharus (black seabream)
8. Trachinotus goodei (great pompano)
9. A wrasse
10. The long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis.
    Canada, US, archaic
11. A chimney cap to prevent smoking.
    Scotland

Examples

“Once John, being overtaken in drink on the roadside by the cottage, and dreaming that he was burning in hell, awoke and saw the old wife hobbling toward him. Thereupon he fled soberly to the hills, and from that day became a quiet-living, humble-minded Christian.”

“The Oldvvives, be a foule that never leave tatling day or night, ſomething bigger than a Ducke.”

CEFR level