interesting term

[Annette Bethke]

"grass widow" The term "grass widow" had various meanings. It could refer to a woman who was divorced, separated, or whose husband was temporarily absent. Other possibilities include a discarded mistress or the mother of an illegitimate child.

"A Rebel Wife in Texas" page. 247 foot note.

Anyone else ever heard this term?

[Hank Trent]

Re: interesting term

I've heard it used at least actively in my parents' generation, and always understood it to mean a woman whose husband had abandoned her, but of course the other definitions listed in the footnote also sound reasonable.

Here's an explanation of its origin from 1875, (Manufacturer and Builder, Notes and Queries, Dec. 1875). No idea if this is true or not, but it's at least an almost contemporary folk (or real) etymology.

"The Roman Catholic Church does not sanction divorce; therefore the only way in which a woman could get rid of her husband was by becoming a widow. The Pope, in order to be consistent and still satisfy the desire of rich and influential ladies, exerted the power to declare any married woman a widow, even if her husband were still alive. Such a decree called the woman 'Viduces de gratia,' which means widow by grace, 'grace widow,' whence by corruption 'grass widow.'"

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Edwin Carl Erwin]

Re: "grass widow"

Ms. Bethke,

Look no further:

https://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-gra1.htm

&

https://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/38/messages/1533.html

Regards,

[Annette Bethke]

Re: interesting term

thank you both for the info. I was just surprised I had never come across this term before.