boston marriage
/ˈbɒs.tən ˈmæ.ɹɪd͡ʒ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.47 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
14
Letters
3
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A long-term monogamous relationship between two unmarried women, especially in New England between the 18th and early 20th centuries.
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "[…] 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."
- "Often, in marked contrast to Boston marriages in previous times, these lesbians keep their asexuality hidden from the community."
- "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."
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.