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.
      [1913 Webster]

            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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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:

Ditty-bag \Dit"ty-bag`\, n.
   A sailor's small bag to hold thread, needles, tape, etc.; --
   also called sailor's housewife.
   [1913 Webster]