Boston marriage en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈbɒs.tən ˈmæ.ɹɪd͡ʒ/
- bŏs'tn mă'rĭj
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
Unknown, first used in late 19th century New England, and sometimes connected to The Bostonians (1885) by Henry James, which describes such a relationship.
Meanings
-
(historical) A long-term monogamous relationship between two unmarried women, especially in New England between the 18th and early 20th centuries.
Thus, unlike in contemporary relationships, participants in a Boston marriage may or may not have considered genital activity to be an important element in their relationship.
2006, Laura Castañeda, Shannon B. Campbell, News and Sexuality: Media Portraits of Diversity, SAGE, page 217:[…] several times I was within an inch of coming down here and asking you out for a ride in my red convertible, but the Weird Sisters (indicating Meg and Louisa) told me not to disturb you. But I'm big enough to understand; I wasn't born yesterday. I understand this sort of menage, you know; it's called a Boston Marriage.
[1952, John Horne Burns, Cry of the Children:Two women, as well known as Susan Channing and Edna D. Cheney, have made separate appeals for this new departure of female habit. A Boston marriage is described to be a sympathetic union of two women who have not been able to make good and agreeable matches with members of the opposite sex.
[1894 May 3, “Vanity Fair”, in The Argonaut, page 9:Often, in marked contrast to Boston marriages in previous times, these lesbians keep their asexuality hidden from the community.
2002, Marilyn Yalom, Laura L. Carstensen, Inside the American Couple: New Thinking, New Challenges, University of California Press, page 81:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston marriages | Number=Plur | lexicographic |