grass widow

noun

1. a woman who is separated, divorced, or lives apart from her husband.
2. a woman whose husband is away from home frequently or for a long time, as on business or to pursue a sport or hobby.
3. Archaic.
   1. a discarded mistress.
   2. a woman who has borne an illegitimate child.

grass widow

noun

1. a woman divorced, separated, or living away from her spouse
2. a woman whose spouse is regularly away for short periods

Other Words From

• grasswidow·hood noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grass widow¹

1520–30; the first element perhaps originally alluding to a bed of grass, hay, or the like; compare Dutch grasweduwe, German Strohwittwe literally, straw-widow

Word History and Origins

Origin of grass widow¹

C16, meaning a discarded mistress: perhaps an allusion to a grass bed as representing an illicit relationship; compare bastard ; C19 in the modern sense

Idioms and Phrases

A woman who is separated from her husband, either by divorce or temporary absence. For example, She's a grass widow these days, with Herb traveling to golf tournaments all over the country . The expression dates from the 16th century, when it referred to the mother of an illegitimate child, grass presumably alluding to the open-air setting of the child's conception.

Example Sentences

Samuel could not imagine his grass-widow, Mrs. De Ferriac, causing any very righteous blows on her own account.

From Project Gutenberg

It was very kind of him, of course, but I wish he would let me alone, and send his old flowers to the grass widow.

From Project Gutenberg

But she did not fancy Simla in the season as a grass-widow, and had had quite enough of being alone.

From Project Gutenberg

In weeding, the beer gardener should be careful to distinguish between true widow's weeds and grass widow's weeds.

From Project Gutenberg

So the grass widow is back in Rome, and Peppi, you say, is cocking his eye at her?

From Project Gutenberg