wittol

[ wit-l ]

/ ˈwɪt l /

a man who knows of and tolerates his wife's infidelity.

Origin of wittol

1400–50; late Middle English wetewold, equivalent to wete wit² + ( coke)wold cuckold

Wittol, wit′ol, n. one who knows his wife's faithlessness, and submits to it.

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) |Various
We jest had180 time to wittol the boats and stand for the shore.

The Wreck of the Grosvenor, Volume 2 of 3 |William Clark Russell
A wittol, a barber, and a bald-headed man travelled together.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction |Various
There are cases in which we may pretend to sleep; but the wittol rule has some sense in it, Non omnibus dormio.

The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. V. (of 12) |Edmund Burke

She would not quit the estate and title of the wittol who had wedded her.

Kenilworth |Sir Walter Scott

wittol

/ (ˈwɪtəl) /

obsolete a man who tolerates his wife's unfaithfulness

C15 wetewold, from witen to know (see wit ²) + -wold, perhaps from cokewold cuckold