Etymology

white marriage

Today it means: An unconsummated marriage. Full definition →

French mariage blanc
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The story

  1. French · calque ofmariage blanc
  2. English todaywhite marriage

Calque of French mariage blanc. “White” is the traditional symbol of purity and therefore of virginity. It may also refer to the absence of hymenal blood on the couple’s sheets.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.