【使用地区】：美国新英格兰地区各州

【释义】：

An elevated observatory atop a dwelling，usually with a railing and affording a good view of the ocean．These watchtowers，often seen on the roofs of old houses in New England，date back to colonial times and were so named because many women walked in vain on them，waiting for incoming ships that never returned．Taking the form of a cupola，railed—in deck，or balcony，they also have been called，less poetically，the captain’s walk，the lookout，the observatory，and the walk．

指“住房顶上的观望台”，通常有扶手，能远眺大海。这些观望塔，通常会在新英格兰的老房子上看到。其建筑可回溯到殖民时代，因为当时许多女人走上观望台，等待出海归来的船只，但她们等待的船只往往一去不返了。故此词组的字面意思是“屋顶上寡妇的平台”。这类观望台一般圆屋顶，有像船的甲板上或阳台上那样的栏杆。这种观望台又称之为the captain’s walk，the lookout，the observatory和the walk，但这些名称就毫无诗意了。(注：walk一词在这些词组里的意思是“建在屋顶的平台”。)