Widow's walk

Widow's walk

A widow's walk (or roofwalk) is a railed rooftop platform, typically on a coastal house, originally designed to observe vessels at sea. The name comes from the wives of mariners, who would watch for their spouses' return. In some instances, the ocean took the lives of the mariners, leaving the women as widows. The women would often thereafter gaze out to sea wishing beyond hope that their loved ones would return home and hence the name widow's walk was born.

Also beyond their use as viewing platforms, they are frequently built around the chimney of the residence, thus creating an easy access route to the structure. This allows the residents of the home to pour sand down burning chimneys in the hope of preventing the house from burning down.


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  • widow's walk — ☆ widow s walk n. a platform with a rail around it, built onto the roof of some New England houses, as along the coast, formerly for observing ships at sea …   English World dictionary

  • Widow's Walk (novel) — Widow s Walk (2002) is a detective novel by American crime writer Robert B. Parker, the 29th in his renowned Spenser series.ynopsisBoston bank manager Nathan Smith has been shot through the head while lying in bed. His new wife, young peroxide… …   Wikipedia

  • widow's walk — wid′ow s walk n. archit. bui a platform or walk atop a roof, as on coastal New England houses of the 18th and 19th centuries, often used as a lookout for incoming ships • Etymology: 1935–40, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • widow's walk — a platform or walk atop a roof, as on certain coastal New England houses of the 18th and early 19th centuries: often used as a lookout for incoming ships. [1935 40, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • widow's walk — noun Date: 1937 a railed observation platform atop a usually coastal house …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • widow's walk — noun A raised platform on the roof of a house, especially one on a coastal house originally used for viewing the arrival of shipping …   Wiktionary

  • widow's walk — high porch or lookout on a rooftop of a house (generally a house situated in a town by the sea) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • widow's walk — noun N. Amer. a railed or balustraded platform built on a roof in early New England houses, providing an unimpeded view of the sea. Origin 1930s: with ref. to its use as a viewpoint for return of a seafaring husband …   English new terms dictionary

  • widow's walk — noun a lookout atop a coastal house • Hypernyms: ↑lookout, ↑observation tower, ↑lookout station, ↑observatory …   Useful english dictionary

  • widow'swalk — widow s walk n. A railed, rooftop platform typically on a coastal house, originally designed to observe vessels at sea. * * * …   Universalium

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