dow

v. t. [ F. douer. See Dower. ] To furnish with a dower; to endow. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A kind of vessel. See Dhow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Dow, v. t. ] Capable of being endowed; entitled to dower. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. douagiere, fr. douage dower. See Dower. ] 1. (Eng. Law) A widow endowed, or having a jointure; a widow who either enjoys a dower from her deceased husband, or has property of her own brought by her to her husband on marriage, and settled on her after his decease. Blount. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A title given in England to a widow, to distinguish her from the wife of her husband's heir bearing the same name; -- chiefly applied to widows of personages of rank. [ 1913 Webster ]

With prudes for proctors, dowagers for deans. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Queen dowager, the widow of a king. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The rank or condition of a dowager; formality, as that of a dowager. Also used figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mansions that have passed away into dowagerism. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Doucet. ] One of the testicles of a hart or stag. [ Spelt also doucet. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Dowdier superl. Dowdiest. ] [ Scot. dawdie slovenly, daw, da sluggard, drab, Prov. E. dowd flat, dead. ] Showing a vulgar taste in dress; awkward and slovenly in dress; vulgar-looking. -- Dow"di*ly adv. -- Dow"di*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Dowdies An awkward, vulgarly dressed, inelegant woman. Shak. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]