- Queen dowager
- Dowager Dow"a*ger, 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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.