The state or condition of being a grass widow, a woman whose husband is absent for extended periods.
From 'grass widow' (a woman separated from her husband, possibly from the idea of lying on grass rather than in a marriage bed) plus Old English '-hood' (state or condition). The term originated in the 16th century and the '-hood' suffix was added to form the abstract noun.
This archaic term reveals how people once had specific vocabulary for different types of separation—before modern divorce, a 'grass widow' occupied its own unique social category, and adding '-hood' made it describe an entire lifestyle or status. The grass metaphor suggests informality or illegitimacy, showing how language encoded social judgment.
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