Dower
/ˈdaʊ.ər/noun
A widow's legal share of her husband's estate, or the property set aside for it.
Did you know?Dower comes from the same ancient root as “dowry,” but in medieval law it specifically protected a wife’s future by assigning her a share of land or income after her husband’s death.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deh₃-
“to give”
Latin
Latin
dotare
“to endow, furnish with a dowry”
Old French
Old French
douer
“to endow, provide with a dowry”
Middle English
English
doweren
“to endow, provide a widow's portion”
Modern English
English
dower
“a widow's legal share of her husband's estate”