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]