Old English husbonda "male head of a household," probably from Old Norse husbondi "master of the house," from hus "house" (see house, n.) + bondi "householder, dweller, freeholder, peasant," from buandi, present participle of bua "to dwell" (see bower). Beginning late 13c., replaced Old English wer as "married man," companion of wif, a sad loss for English poetry. Slang shortening hubby first attested 1680s.

"manage thriftily," early 15c., from husband, n. in an obsolete sense of "steward" (mid-15c.). Related: Husbanded; husbanding.