late 14c., "head of a household or family; one who manages a household;" by mid-15c. as "one who holds or occupies a house as his dwelling," from household. There are similar formations in other Germanic languages (German Haushälter) also often with corresponding verbal forms (German haushalten) but not in English.
housebreaking
housecraft
housefly
houseful
household
householder
housekeeper
housekeeping
housemaid
housemate
housetop