約在1400年，“婦女在婚姻中帶給丈夫的錢財、物品或財產”，源自盎格魯-法語 dowarie，古法語 doaire（13世紀後期）“嫁妝、財產、禮物”，源自中世紀拉丁語 dotarium，源自拉丁語 dotare “捐贈、分配”，源自 dos（屬格 dotis）“婚姻財產”，源自 PIE *do-ti，源自詞根 *do- “給予”。參見 dower。
dower, dowry. The two words, originally the same, are differentiated in ordinary literal use, dower being the widow's life share of her husband's property, & dowry the portion brought by a bride to her husband; but in poetic or other ornamental use dower has often the sense of dowry; & either is applied figuratively to talents &c. [Fowler]
嫁妝、婚姻財產。這兩個詞最初相同，在普通的字面意義上有所區別， dower 是寡婦在丈夫財產中的終身份額， dowry 是新娘帶給丈夫的財產； 但在詩歌或其他修辭用法中， dower 常常具有 dowry 的意義； 並且任何一個詞都可以比喻爲才能等等。[福勒]
