Fishmonger vs. Fishwife — What's the Difference?

A fishmonger (historically fishwife for female practitioners) is someone who sells raw fish and seafood. Fishmongers can be wholesalers or retailers, and are trained at selecting and purchasing, handling, gutting, boning, filleting, displaying, merchandising and selling their product.

A fishwife, fish-fag or fishlass is a woman who sells fish.Often the wives and daughters of fishermen, fishwives were notoriously loud and foul-mouthed, as noted in the expression, To swear like a fishwife. One reason for their outspokenness is that their wares were highly perishable and so lost value if not sold quickly.

One that sells fish for food.

A woman who sells fish.

(British) A person who sells fish.

A woman regarded as coarse and shrewishly abusive.

A fishmonger's, a fishmonger's shop: a shop that sells fish.

(archaic) A woman who sells or works with fish; a female fishmonger.

(archaic) A pimp.

(pejorative) A vulgar, abusive or nagging woman with a loud, unpleasant voice.

A dealer in fish.

A person, especially a woman, with poor personal hygiene.

Someone who sells fish

The wife of a homosexual man.

A fishwoman.

A woman who abusively scolds other people, often using coarse or vulgar language.

Someone who sells fish