widow’s weeds

[wid-ohz weedz]

plural noun

1. mourning clothes worn by a woman after the death of her spouse.

   She was still in widow’s weeds, but starting to attend more social engagements.

Word History and Origins

Origin of widow’s weeds¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Trina wears her wampum beads She fills her drawing book with line Sewing lace on widow’s weeds And filigree on leaf and vine.

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A big, poofy white tutu is the antithesis of widow’s weeds.

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What earrings matched a pirate widow’s weeds?

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Heather McClintock-Racz stood on the slopes wearing 19th century widow’s weeds and a broad hat.

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In the Victorian era, people in mourning wore a black armband or dressed in black clothing known as “widow’s weeds,” so that others would know that they required tender respect.

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