Definition of "widder"

At the sewing- society the matter was fully discussed. Mrs. Greenfield, the doctor's wife, admitted that it would be an excellent match, "jest a child apiece, both on 'em well brought up, used to good company, and all that; but, land's sakes! he, with his mint o' money, a'n't a-goin' to marry a poor widder that ha'n't got nothin' but her husband's pictur' and her boy,--not he!"

1858, Various, The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 2, Number 9, July, 1858‎

And then, before the public mind had become sufficiently settled to inquire into the matter, the rumor changed itself into a piece of positive news:-- "The widder Kinzer's moved over into Ham's house, bag and baggage."

1884, William O. Stoddard, Dab Kinzer‎

She wuz a widder fer de secon' time, an' didn' have no child'en, an' could jes' as well come as not. "

1901, Charles W. Chesnutt, The Marrow of Tradition‎

I wouldn't like the missus to be a widder: she's too darn good-lookin'."

1920, Marie Conway Oemler, The Purple Heights‎

There was five of us lads from the brickyard; 'Enry was gassed at Bapome,Sydney was drowned in a crater, 'Erbert was 'alved by a shell;Joe was the pick o' the posy, might 'a bin sifely at 'ome,Only son of 'is mother, 'er a widder as well.

1958, Robert W. Service, Ballads of a Bohemian‎