Doarium

Douarium, Dodarium, Doiarium, Dotalitium, L. Lat. Dower. The use of these words is entirely confined to the early continental law of Europe, although, according to Spelman, they are the proper Latin equivalents of the English wopI dower; dos, (the term employed by all the English writers since Bracton to signify dower,) denoting properly quite a different thing.

Spelman, 2 Bl, Com, 129.

See Do Sy Dower, Doarium is mentioned in the early law of France, as the popular term for dower, or a widow's portion of her husband's estate. Spelman, Calvin Lex. Jur. Douarium occurs in the history of Bretagne in a similar sense. The latter word» sometimes inaccurately written donarium, comes very near the form of the English word dower. Both doarium and douarium are from the Fr. douaire, which seems also to be the root of the English word. Dower occurs in its present form in the Law French of Britton. Britt, c.

101.