little woman noun the wife UK,1795 Intentionally archaic, revoltingly coy, and condescending.
He still feels free to philander all over the town because he knows his little woman is keeping the home fires burning. — Sue Rhodes, And WhenShewasBadShewasPopular, p. 35, 1968
Comes home and the little woman sends him to the store. — Elmore Leonard, Killshot, p. 106, 1989