Jump To:

• half mourning
  half mourning

  noun

  a mourning garb less somber than deep mourning, usually following a period of deep mourning.
• half-mourning
  half-mourning

  noun

  dark grey clothes worn by some during a period after full formal mourning

half mourning

American  

noun

1. a mourning garb less somber than deep mourning, usually following a period of deep mourning.

2. the period during which it is worn.

---

half-mourning British  

noun

1. dark grey clothes worn by some during a period after full formal mourning

---

Etymology

Origin of half mourning

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

half mourning half-mourning

Her husband sits on one end of the frilly sofa, half asleep from the long night, half mourning.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

In France, etiquette prescribes mourning for a husband for one year and six weeks—that is, six months of deep mourning, six of ordinary, and six weeks of half mourning.

From Manners and Social Usages by Sherwood, Mrs. John M. E. W.

They had already made up dresses for half mourning, of white and black.

From The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay — Volume 3 by Burney, Fanny

This may be shortened at discretion to six months of deep mourning followed by six months of semi-mourning or three months of deep mourning and six of half mourning.

From Book of Etiquette Volume I by Eichler, Lillian

The low houses were like so many rows of pale faces; the caps of the fishwives, as they nodded a farewell, seemed to put the village in half mourning.

From In and out of Three Normady Inns by Dodd, Anna Bowman

Perhaps he would slide truffle slices under the skin for poulet en demi-deuil, the rarely seen chicken in half-mourning made famous by Eugènie Brazier, the chef who founded La Mère Brazier.

From New York Times ● Jul. 21, 2020

During the shortest period black should be worn for two months, half-mourning for two months.

From Manners and Rules of Good Society or Solecisms to be Avoided by Anonymous

In a white dress, with dark trimming, as in a beautiful half-mourning, she sat at the drawing-table with her eyes sharper than usual, buried in a picture.

From Titan: A Romance v. 1 (of 2) by Richter, Jean Paul Friedrich

There was really a village called Nutgall; that was the one fact that the respectable person in half-mourning had brought along with his black leather bag and silk umbrella.

From Lost Sir Massingberd, v. 2/2 A Romance of Real Life by Payn, James

I had made certain that they would know something of the mysterious ladies in half-mourning; consequently, I was all the more disappointed.

From She and I, Volume 1 by Hutcheson, John C. (John Conroy)