/hwid"euh, wid"euh/ , n.
1. any of several small African finches of the subfamily Viduinae, the males of which have elongated, drooping tail feathers during the breeding season.
2. any of several African weaverbirds of the genus Euplectes, the males of which have similar long tails. Also, whidah . Also called widow bird .
[ 1775-85; alter. of WIDOW (BIRD) to make name agree with that of a town in Benin, West Africa, one of its haunts ]