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DictionarywidowIsolated final line
noun

widow

A paragraph’s final short line appearing alone at the top of a page or column.

A widow sits alone at the top of the next page.

Etymology
widowOld Englishwidow

Typography uses the bereaved-person image for a line separated from the paragraph to which it belongs. The isolated final line is left alone at the top.

More examples

  • The paragraph’s last three words form a widow above the next column.
  • Slightly tighter spacing brings the widow back onto the previous page.
  • The designer checks each page for widows before sending the book to print.

Forms

widow · widows