grass widow

English

Etymology

From grass + widow. Compare Dutch grasweduwe, Swedish gräsänka.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈɡɹɑːs ˌwɪdəʊ/

Noun

grass widow (plural grass widows)

1. An unmarried woman who has lived with several different men; a former mistress. [from 16th c.]
2. A married woman whose husband is away. [from 19th c.]
   • 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York 2007, p. 226:

     I was disappointed when it was her who opened the door and said, ‘Ah, I had a feeling you were thinking about me! Come in, come in, do! I am a grass widow.’

Synonyms

• (woman whose husband is away): det widow

Derived terms

• grass widowhood
• grass widower

Translations

woman whose husband is away

• Czech: slaměná vdova (cs) f
• Danish: græsenke (da) c
• Dutch: groene weduwe (nl) f, onbestorven weduwe (nl) f
• Finnish: vihreä leski (fi)
• German: Strohwitwe (de) f
• Hebrew: אלמנת קש (he) (almenat kásh) f

• Hungarian: szalmaözvegy (hu)
• Polish: słomiana wdowa (pl) f
• Russian: соломенная вдова (ru) (solómennaja vdová) f 
• Spanish: esposa separada temporalmente (es)
• Swedish: gräsänka (sv) c

References

• prof. dr. W. Martin, prof. dr. G.A.J. Tops et.al., Groot Woordenboek Engels–Nederlands, Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht/Antwerpen, 1998 [English–Dutch dictionary]