dowry
n. countablen. money, property, or gifts that a woman's family gives to her new husband when they get married. In some cultures, this is a traditional part of the wedding agreement.
n. the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband or his family in marriage. Historically used to establish a new household or provide financial security for the wife, though its legal status varies significantly across modern jurisdictions.
The family saved for years to provide a generous dowry.
In many historical novels, the plot revolves around a young woman's dowry and her prospects for a good marriage.
While the practice of providing a dowry has declined in many Western societies, it remains a deeply entrenched cultural expectation in several regions, often influencing social mobility and family alliances.
From Middle English dowarye, dowerie, from Anglo-Norman dowarie, douarie, from Old French douaire, from Medieval Latin dōtārium, from Latin dōs. Doublet of dower.
Commonly used in historical, legal, or anthropological contexts.