merry widow

American  

noun

1. a woman's undergarment consisting of a strapless brassiere and short corset with attached garters.

---

Etymology

Origin of merry widow

First recorded in 1950–55; named after The Merry Widow, an operetta (1905) by Franz Lehár ( def. ); formerly a trademark

Example Sentences

She transported audiences to Edwardian London with a cheeky medley of songs from My Fair Lady, and scaled the heights with her rendition of Vilja Song – the nostalgic showpiece of Franz Lehár's operetta The Merry Widow.

From BBC

One day, it’s the hot new thing, perhaps even defining its era; next, it’s “The Merry Widow.”

From New York Times

He won a Grammy for writing the libretto for “The Merry Widow” featuring Beverly Sills.

From Seattle Times

Mr. Harnick also became an accomplished opera translator, providing English librettos for classical works like Lehar’s “The Merry Widow,” Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale” and Bizet’s “Carmen.”

From New York Times

She styled the tailored look with a headpiece featuring a crinoline base with a layer of tulle and merry widow veiling, adorned with a ribbon bow.

From Washington Times