grass widow

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

grass′ wid′ow, 

1. a woman who is separated, divorced, or lives apart from her husband.
2. a woman whose husband is away from home frequently or for a long time, as on business or to pursue a sport or hobby.
3. [Archaic.]
   • a discarded mistress.
   • a woman who has borne an illegitimate child.
• 1520–30; the first element perh. origin, originally alluding to a bed of grass, hay, or the like; compare Dutch grasweduwe, German Strohwittwe literally, straw-widow
grass′wid′ow•hood′, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

grass widow noun

1. a woman whose spouse is regularly away for short periods

Etymology: 16th Century, meaning a discarded mistress: perhaps an allusion to a grass bed as representing an illicit relationship; compare bastard; C19 in the modern sense