From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdowrydow‧ry /ˈdaʊəri $ ˈdaʊri/ noun (plural dowries) [countable] BSSFproperty and money that a woman gives to her husband when they marry in some societies
Examples from the Corpus
dowry• He gave her an estate at Alva as a dowry and probably accompanied it with a large sum of money.• As a dowry to this marriage of heaven and hell, Lilith brings a magic mirror, a crown and a pearl.• Her great-aunt had been burned to death over a dowry problem.• There is no evidence of what lands, if any, she brought her husband as dowry.• I set aside a good dowry and other things for her.• Without military strength to assist in their retention, dowries could prove but short-term gains.• Since Octavia will save a substantial dowry, she will have a prosperous independence.• Where dreams and reality parted company was about marriage and the dowry.From Longman Business Dictionarydowrydow‧ry /ˈdaʊəriˈdaʊri/ noun (plural dowries) [countable]1FINANCE journalism money which is given by one company to a company it is trying to buy. The dowry is meant to encourage the second company to agree to the arrangementThe government has already written off £5 billion worth of debts and thrown in an extra £1.6 billion dowry.2money or valuable gifts that in some cultures the family of a BRIDE gives to her husband when she gets marriedOrigin dowry (1300-1400) Anglo-French dowarie, from Medieval Latin dotarium, from Latin dos “(marriage) gift” 