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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

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

Full mourning must be worn for one hundred days and half mourning for twenty-seven months, by which our grief may be partly expressed.

From Court Life in China by Headland, Isaac Taylor

Even he might have been better than the botanist, but I suppose Lady Katherine felt these two would be a kind of half mourning for me.

From Red Hair by Glyn, Elinor

The western sky wore a rather ominous look of half mourning, and heavy grey and black clouds were whirling about and forming up in close order in a manner suggestive of rising wind.

From Above the Snow Line by Dent, Clinton Thomas

The new cravat comes when the new feathers grow in late summer; and, at first, it is barred with gray as if in half mourning for his sins.

From Woodland Tales by Seton, Ernest Thompson

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

And remembering the reference to half-mourning, wondered whether it was expressed in the hound.

From The Tigress by Warner, Anne

One was middle-aged, or thereabouts; the other young; both were dressed in half-mourning.

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

I could not go round everywhere, asking everybody after two ladies dressed in half-mourning, could I?

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

Victor Fargeau saw at a glance that the count and Sophie were dressed in half-mourning, and instantly divined that their visit was one of condolence.

From The World Masters by Griffith, George Chetwynd