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• 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.

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half-mourning British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of half mourning

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

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, a widow wears deep mourning for her husband during a year, and half mourning during another year.

From Her Royal Highness Woman by O'Rell, Max

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

During a very dressy half mourning, however, black lace may be worn on white silk; but this is questionable.

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