from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Widow \Wid"ow\ (w[i^]d"[-o]), n. [OE. widewe, widwe, AS.
weoduwe, widuwe, wuduwe; akin to OFries. widwe, OS. widowa,
D. weduwe, G. wittwe, witwe, OHG. wituwa, witawa, Goth.
widuw[=o], Russ. udova, OIr. fedb, W. gweddw, L. vidua, Skr.
vidhav[=a]; and probably to Skr. vidh to be empty, to lack;
cf. Gr. "hi`qeos a bachelor. [root]248. Cf. {Vidual}.]
A woman who has lost her husband by death, and has not
married again; one living bereaved of a husband. "A poor
widow." --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Card Playing) In various games (such as "hearts"), any
extra hand or part of a hand, as one dealt to the table.
It may be taken by one of the players under certain
circumstances.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Grass widow}. See under {Grass}.
{Widow bewitched}, a woman separated from her husband; a
grass widow. [Colloq.]
{Widow-in-mourning} (Zool.), the macavahu.
{Widow monkey} (Zool.), a small South American monkey
({Callithrix lugens}); -- so called on account of its
color, which is black except the dull whitish arms, neck,
and face, and a ring of pure white around the face.
{Widow's chamber} (Eng. Law), in London, the apparel and
furniture of the bedchamber of the widow of a freeman, to
which she was formerly entitled.
[1913 Webster]