1. a woman who owns or operates an alehouse or tavern
Usage: archaic; historical
2. a small fish of the herring family found in Atlantic coastal waters and freshwater lakes
Usage: ichthyology

Examples

• The alewife served drinks to sailors at the harbor tavern.
• In colonial times, an alewife was often a respected businesswoman in her community.
• Alewives migrate upstream in spring to spawn in freshwater lakes.
• The alewife population has declined due to dam construction blocking migration routes.
• Fishermen catch alewives for both food and bait.