Maritagium

Dowry; a portion given with a daughter on her marriage; also, in feudal law, the right which the lord had to control the marriage of his vassals' daughters, or to exact a fee or tribute th ereon. The right was formerly enjoyed by the lord of whom lands were held in knight-service, of disposing of his infant wards in matrimony, at their peril of forfeiting to him, in case of their refusing a suitable match, a sum of money equal to the value of the marriage; that is, what the suitor was willing to pay down to the lord as the price of marrying his ward; and double the market value was to be forfeited, if the ward presumed to marry without the lord's consent.

Cowel; 2 Bl. Com. 70.