henpecked
UK[ˈhenpekt]US[ˈhenpekt]
adj
(of a man) excessively controlled by or submissive to his wife or female partner.
Morpheme Breakdown
hen
pecked
hen
pecked
Etymology
the term henpecked is a compound word formed within english. it first appeared in the 17th century, drawing on the long-established figurative use of 'hen' to refer to a woman, particularly a wife or a scolding woman. the verb 'peck' vividly evokes the image of a hen repeatedly and annoyingly striking with its beak. the compound thus creates a metaphorical portrait of a husband who is constantly nagged, criticized, or dominated by his wife, much like a rooster being pecked at by a hen. this analogy solidified in the language to describe male submissiveness in a domestic context.
Analysis
Structure: hen + pecked
hen (old english, meaning a female domestic fowl, used figuratively for a woman); pecked (english, past participle of 'peck', meaning to strike or bite with the beak)
Examples
his friends often joked that he was a henpecked husband because he always checked with his wife before making plans.
the henpecked character in the play provided comic relief through his futile attempts to defy his domineering wife.
he refused to be henpecked and stood his ground during the argument about household finances.