hussy

plural hussies · alternative obsolete huzzy

1. derogatoryinformalA sexually immoral woman.

   She called him ‘pig’ in bastard Arabic, and he called her ‘hussy’ in good English, but these amenities were forgotten in the face of the catastrophe that had overwhelmed her at the hands of her Queen.

   1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC

2. derogatoryinformalA cheeky or disrespectful girl; a woman showing inappropriate or improper behavior.

   But the girl didn’t like to, till her stepmother said: “Lift it up this instant, you hussy! Girls must keep their promises!”

   1890, Joseph Jacobs, “The Well of the World’s End”, in English Fairy Tales, page 217

   1 more example

   Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: minx

3. obsoleteA housewife or housekeeper.

   WIRTHIN. Well, I should think so! They just dote on that hussy—can't seem to get enough of her. Gretchen tells me so herself. And the care she takes of them!

   1892, Mark Twain, Meisterschaft: In Three Acts, act III, scene I, page 199

   Synonyms: housewife

4. obsoleteA case or bag for needles, thread, etc.