The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Housewife \House"wife`\, Housewive \House"wive`\, v. t.
   To manage with skill and economy, as a housewife or other
   female manager; to economize.
   [1913 Webster]

         Conferred those moneys on the nuns, which since they
         have well housewived.                    --Fuller.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Housewife \House"wife`\, n. [House + wife. Cf. Hussy.]
   1. The wife of a householder; the mistress of a family; the
      female head of a household. --Shak.
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            He a good husband, a good housewife she. --Dryden.
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   2. (Usually pronounced ?.) [See Hussy, in this sense.] A
      little case or bag for materials used in sewing, and for
      other articles of female work; -- called also hussy.
      [Written also huswife.] --P. Skelton.
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   3. A hussy. [R.] [Usually written huswife.] --Shak.
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   Sailor's housewife, a ditty-bag. Housewife

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Huswife \Hus"wife\, n. [OE. huswif; hus house + wif wife. Cf.
   Hussy a housewife, Housewife.] [Written also
   housewife.]
   1. A female housekeeper; a woman who manages domestic
      affairs; a thirfty woman. "The bounteous huswife Nature."
      --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            The huswife is she that do labor doth fall.
                                                  --Tusser.
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   2. A worthless woman; a hussy. [Obs.] --Shak.
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   3. [See Hussy a bag.] A case for sewing materials. See
      Housewife. --Cowper.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

housewife
    n 1: a wife who manages a household while her husband earns the
         family income [syn: housewife, homemaker, lady of the
         house, woman of the house]