mourning band

American  

noun

1. a piece of black cloth that is worn, especially as a band encircling the upper arm, to indicate mourning.

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mourning band British  

noun

1. a piece of black material, esp an armband, worn to indicate that the wearer is in mourning

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Etymology

Origin of mourning band

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mourning band

Pershing, wearing a dark mourning band on one sleeve, and Harding, wearing a top hat, walked side by side behind the caisson.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 10, 2021

It was a simple silk stovepipe piece, size 7 ⅛, adorned with a three-inch-high silk mourning band, which Lincoln wore in memory of his son Willie.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 10, 2018

The President was dressed in a gray suit with a mourning band on one sleeve.

From Time Magazine Archive

“So from a sort of visual point, he’s . . . making a comment by keeping this mourning band on,” he said.

From Washington Post

Lincoln—whose hat was still circled by a black mourning band in honor of his dead son—spoke for a couple of minutes, and delivered 250-odd words.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith