: a woman whose husband has died
: a woman whose husband often leaves her alone while he plays sports or is involved in other activities
Full Definition of WIDOW
1
a : a woman who has lost her husband by death and usually has not remarried
b : a woman whose husband leaves her alone frequently or for long periods to engage in a usually specified activity <a golf widow>
2 : an extra hand or part of a hand of cards dealt face down and usually placed at the disposal of the highest bidder
3 : a single usually short last line (as of a paragraph) separated from its related text and appearing at the top of a printed page or column
Origin of WIDOW
Middle English widewe, from Old English wuduwe; akin to Old High German wituwa widow, Latin vidua, Sanskrit vidhavā, Latin -videre to separate
First Known Use: before 12th century