apron-strings, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

apron-strings n.

[note earlier use of apron-string hold , property owned by the wife]

used fig. to imply subservience to a woman, usu. one’s wife or mother.

1809		B.H. Malkin (trans.) Adventures of Gil Blas (1822) I 122: Donna Alfonsa de Solis, and old devotee [...] always keeps her servant at her apron-strings.
1821		R. Waln Hermit in America on Visit to Phila. 2nd series 45: Let it no longer be said that any man breathing is humble enough to pin himself to the apron-string of a peevish, testy, dissappointed old maid!
1846		Eniskillen Chron. & Erne Packet 29 June 43: I dare say you were a mere molly-coddle, brought up at your mother’s apron-string and had not pluyck enough to do anything sporting.
1888		J. Runciman Chequers 37: I’m going to be out of apron-strings for a bit.
1891		St. Johnsbury Caledonian (VT) 20 Aug. 3/1: Abraham Lincoln once told a young man [...] ‘to cut acquaintance of every person who talked slightingly of his mother’s apron-strings’.
1919		F. Hurst ‘A Petal on the Current’ in Humoresque 97: I’m going to see that you get away from her apron-strings.
1921		Esther Bigeou ‘St. Louis Blues’ 🎵 Oh, that St. Louis woman, with her diamond rings, / She pulls my man around by her apron strings.
1923		Nottingham Eve. Post 3 Apr. 4/1: [headline] Apron String Revolt. Henpecked Club Members Day of Freedom.
1946		H.A. Smith Rhubarb 272: In here brawling over a little money, hanging onto your wife’s apron strings when you should be out there batting for the old Loons.

In derivatives

apron-stringed (adj.)

1. (US) subject to any form of domination.

1874

Dly Argus (Rock Is., IL) 11 June 4/5: To this complexion every journal of character, not handcuffed to a Federal office or apron-stringed to party pap, must soone or later come.

2. of a man, henpecked by a woman.

1889		Emmons Co. Record (Williamsport, ND) 18 Oct. 1/5: A man that is a man won’t submit to being apron-stringed.
1903		St Louis Republican (MO) 5 Apr. 61/3: Come on, you pap-eating, apron-stringed, French daddied — .
1959		E. De Roo Go, Man, Go! 9: He had often made alibis so Gil wouldn’t consider him too apron-stringed. Of course, it wasn’t Ma. It was Pa, and he didn’t wear an apron exactly.

In compounds

apronstring cove (n.)

(UK Und.) a man dominated by his wife.

1846

Swell’s Night Guide 108/1: Apronstring cove, a Jerry sneak, a man governed by a woman, a cooly cully, see c--t pensioner.

apron-string hold (n.) (also apron-string tenure)

an estate that a man holds only during the lifetime of his wife; also as v. (see cit. 1678).

1678		J. Ray Proverbs (2nd edn) 226: To hold by the Apron-strings i.e. in right of his wife.
1744		W. Ellis Modern Husbandman VI Pt II 118: One of my Neighbours [...] being possessed of a House and large Orchard by Apron-string-hold, felled almost all his Fruit-Trees, because he every Day expected the Death of his sick Wife.
1753		Richardson Sir Charles Grandison (1812) IV 295: He cursed the apron-string tenure, by which he said he held his peace.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1804		Mrs. Barbauld Corresp. of S. Richardson I 160: All her fortune in her own power – a very apron-string tenure .
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1839		Hereford Times 15 June 4/3: Apron-String Hold. An estate held by a man during his wife’s life.

In phrases

tied to someone’s apron-strings (adj.)

dominated by one’s wife, or mother; also fig. see cites 1894, 1906, 1908.

1761		G. Colman Jealous Wife I i: Oons, madam, the Grand Turk himself has not half so many mistresses! [...] Am I not constantly by your side, as if I was tied to your apron-strings?
1823		Scots Mag. 1 July 30/2: The doating gowk [...] Tied to his dearie’s apron string.
1848		Macaulay Hist. of England II Ch. 10 🌐 He could not submit to be tied to the apron strings even of the best of wives.
1857		Trollope Three Clerks (1869) 98: Surely you’re not tied to that fellow’s apron-strings.
1869		Charleston Dly News (SC) 19 May 1/3: Mothers’ boys [...] have been kept tied up to the apron string to the last moment.
1875		Morn. Star (New Orleans, LA) 30 May 4/6: Tied to a mother’s apron-strings! Surely it is a far more honorable position than to be tied to the coat-tails of some scapegrace.
1878		J. Hatton Cruel London III 21: Her big awkward, grey-headed companion, who had induced her to permit him to tie himself down to her apron-strings.
1891		St. Johnsbury Caledonian (VT) 20 Aug. 3/1: Before I’d be tied to a woman’s apron-strings.
1894		Yorks. Post 15 Feb. 4/3: The working man, having been politically emancipated, is to be tied to the apron-strings of sumptuary laws.
1901		Sth Bucks Standard 25 Oct. 5/3: Pieces Entitled [...] 2. Tied to his Wife’s Apron Strings.
1906		Sheffield Indep. 20 June 5/5: [headline] Austrian Minister’s Declaration. Not Tied to Germany’s Apron Strings.
1908		Nottingham Eve. Post 31 Jan. 4/4: A knot of fussy politicians, who would perpetually treat self-governing colonies like babies, tied to the apron strings of the mother country.
1915		Day Book (Chicago) 28 May 28/ feb. : I said you could go out one night. I don’t want you to be tied to my apron strings.
1927		(con. 1835–40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 16: He means his mother. He’s tied to his mother’s apron-strings.
1932		D.L. Sayers Have His Carcase 56: ‘Fair tied to that young woman’s apronstrings,’ he reflected.
1934		O. Strange Sudden 69: If I want the CP ranch I’ll take it, an’ without any apron-strings tied to it. Sabe?
1939		Aberdeen Peoples Jrnl 20 May 5/2: See that [your child] goes out to play [...] instead of keeping her tied to your apron atrings.
1940		Eve. Dispatch (W. Midlands) 29 Apr. 6/6: [headline] Man, 31, ‘Tied to Mother’s Apron Strings’.
1953		W. Fisher Waiters 165: I’m not talking ’bout something tied to the Kingsfish’s apron strings. No!
1966		P. Boyle At Night All Cats Are Grey 166: A man come to your time of life should have his family reared instead of being still tied to his mother’s apron-strings.