Husband (?), n. [OE. hosebonde, husbonde, a husband, the master of the house or family, AS. h&unr_;sbonda master of the house; h&unr_;s house + bunda, bonda, householder, husband; prob. fr. Icel. h&unr_;sbōndi house master, husband; h&unr_;s house + b&unr_;andi dwelling, inhabiting, p. pr. of b&unr_;a to dwell; akin to AS. b&unr_;an, Goth. bauan. See House Be, and cf. Bond a slave, Boor.] 1. The male head of a household; one who orders the economy of a family. [Obs.]
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2. A cultivator; a tiller; a husbandman. [Obs.] Shak.
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The painful husband, plowing up his ground. Hakewill.
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He is the neatest husband for curious ordering his domestic and field accommodations. Evelyn.
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3. One who manages or directs with prudence and economy; a frugal person; an economist. [R.]
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God knows how little time is left me, and may I be a good husband, to improve the short remnant left me. Fuller.
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4. A married man; a man who has a wife; -- the correlative to wife.
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The husband and wife are one person in law. Blackstone.
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5. The male of a pair of animals. [R.] Dryden.
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A ship's husband (Naut.), an agent representing the owners of a ship, who manages its expenses and receipts.
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