Plural of husband; married men in relation to their spouses. The term refers to male partners in marriage relationships and their associated social and legal roles.
From Old Norse 'húsbóndi' meaning master of the house, from 'hús' (house) and 'bóndi' (dweller, farmer). Originally meant head of household regardless of marital status, narrowing to married man by the 14th century.
The original meaning of husband as 'house master' explains why we still use 'husbandry' to mean careful management of resources, particularly in agriculture. The evolution from property manager to marriage partner reflects changing social structures and the rise of companionate marriage.
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