Henpecking

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  henpeck \hen"peck`\, hen-peck \hen"-peck`\(h[e^]n"p[e^]k`), v.
     t. [imp. & p. p. {Henpecked} (h[e^]n"p[e^]kt`); p. pr. & vb.
     n. {Henpecking}.]
     To bother persistently with trivial complaints; to subject to
     petty authority; -- said of a woman who thus treats her male
     companion, especially of wives who thus dominate their


     husbands. Commonly used in the past participle (often
     adjectively); as, henpecked for years, he finally left her.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]