housemother

== English == === Etymology === From house +‎ mother. First use appears c. 1822. See cite below. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /haʊsˈmʌðə(ɹ)/, [haʊsˈmɐðə(ɹ)] (General American) IPA(key): /hʌʊsˈmʌðɚ/ === Noun === housemother (plural housemothers) The mother of a family; the female head of household, or of any collection of persons living as a family or in common, as in a primitive community. A woman in charge of a residence for young people to look after them. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === motherhouse