A “grass widow” usually refers to a woman whose husband is not deceased. She may be divorced, separated, or living alone because her husband has taken off. The phrase usually does not mean that her husband has actually died.
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3 Responses
I recall my grandmother referring to a divorced woman as a “grass widow.” I’m not sure just what the term means, tho.
That’s a new one on me.
Grass widow or widower is commonly used in the expat community. It refers to someone working in another country whose family/spouse has not yet joined them, or who remain in the home country. If someone is on grass widower status, there are no family benefits (larger housing, school allowance etc) until the family actually comes over. Certainly among the British expats, this is a common term today.