henhussy

noun henhussies · hen hussy · hen-hussy

1. obsolete A girl or woman who tends chickens. "John," called Mr. Carter, "who'd ye think's going t' take care of the hens?"¶ Newsy's feet stopping more suddenly than his head, he was obliged to turn a rapid handspring in order to reestablish his equilibrium. He came up yelling, "What! Her?"¶ "Yes, her," boomed Mr. Carter. "She’s t’ be the hen h
2. derogatory, obsolete A man who performs tasks that traditionally belong to a woman. When I saw the family last, his second wife had built her nest, though not half so well as her predecessor. She was sitting on her eggs, and was most affectionately tended by her husband. Sophia complains that he has become somewhat of a hen-hussy, and had rather be cowering over the nest than abroa

   Similar: betty, cot-betty, cot-quean

3. archaic A housewife. She came forward, a henhussy in her middle forties, shaped somewhat like a thick Letter S as a consequence of upper frontal stick-out and lower rear protrusion.