The provision which the law makes for a widow out of the lands or tenements of her husband, for her support and the nurture of her children. Co. Litt. 30a;”2 Bl. Comm. 130; 4 Kent, Comm. 35: 1 Washb. Real Prop. 146 ; Chapin v. Hill, 1 R. I. 452; Hill v. Mitchell, 5 Ark. 610; Smith v. Hines, 10 Fla. 258; Hoy v. Varner, 100 Va. 600, 42 S. E. 690.”
Dower is an estate for the life of the widow in a certain portion of the following real estate of her husband, to which she has not relinquished her right during the marriage: (1) Of all lands of which the husband was seised in fee during the marriage; (2) of all lands to which another was seised in fee to his use; (3) of all lands to which, at the time of his death, he had a perfect equity, having paid all the purchase money therefor. Code Ala. 1886, s 1892.
The term, both technically and in popular acceptation, has reference to real estate exclusively.”Dower,” in modern use is and should be distinguished from “dowry. The former is a provision for a widow on her husband’s death; the latter is a bride’s portion on her marriage. Wendler v. Lambeth, 163 Mo. 428, 63 S. W. 684. Dower ad ostium eccleslss. Dower at the church door or porch. An ancient kind of dower in England, where a man, (being tenant in fee simple, of full age,) openly at the church door, where all marriages were formerly celebrated, after affiance made and troth plighted between them, endowed his wife with the whole of his lands, or such quantity as he pleased, at the same time specifying and ascertaining the same. Litt.