»My missis kept up a sort of friendship with her.» (T. T. T. 221. 20.)
The same.
»My missis never see you till just this minute.» (Three Men In A Boat 81. 26.)
Uneducated countryman.
»She has come for the Missus’ night things.» (Miss Hobbs 19. 4.)
A groom.
»Missus will be out to-morrow.» (Miss Hobbs 21. 30.)
A servant girl.
The usual expression for »my wife» among the working class; also used by servants in speaking of their mistress (vocative ma’am, mum), and frequently adopted with humorous intent by the ‘better’ classes. »The missus» is especially used to imply—with serio-comic resignation that the wife usually has her own way in the end.