gold star wife en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˌɡəʊld stɑː ˈwaɪf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˌɡoʊld stɑɹ ˈwaɪf/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From gold star (“(attributively) relative of a United States soldier when the latter has been killed in action”) + wife. Gold star refers to stars of that colour traditionally shown on service flags displayed by families of members of the U.S. armed forces.
Meanings
- (US) The widow of a member of the United States armed forces who was killed in action.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gold star wives | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
gold star parent · gold star family · gold star mother · blue star wife · gold star father