A husband is a male spouse, or participant in a marriage. Origin and etymology The term husband refers to Middle English huseband, from Old English hsbnda, from Old Norse hsbndi (hs, house + bndi, bandi, present participle of ba, to dwell, so etymologically, a householder, ). Related terms A husband has been married to another person (or multiple persons) in a wedding ceremony, during which he was known as the groom. His partner, if female, was known during the wedding as his bride, and in marr… (More on Husband)