Alewife \Ale"wife`\, n.; pl. {Alewives}. [This word is properly aloof, the Indian name of a fish. See Winthrop on the culture of maize in America, "Phil Trans." No. 142, p. 1065, and Baddam's "Memoirs," vol. ii. p. 131.] (Zool.) A North American fish ({Clupea vernalis}) of the Herring family. It is called also {ellwife}, {ellwhop}, {branch herring}. The name is locally applied to other related species. [1913 Webster]
Alewife \Ale"wife`\, n.; pl. {Alewives}. A woman who keeps an alehouse. --Gay. [1913 Webster]