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Dower vs Dowel - What's the difference?

dower | dowel |

As nouns the difference between dower and dowel

is that dower is the part of or interest in a deceased husband's property provided to his widow, usually in the form of a life estate while dowel is a pin, or block, of wood or metal, fitting into holes in the abutting portions of two pieces, and being partly in one piece and partly in the other, to keep them in their proper relative position.

As verbs the difference between dower and dowel

is that dower is to give a dower or dowry while dowel is to fasten together with dowels.

dower

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (legal) The part of or interest in a deceased husband's property provided to his widow, usually in the form of a life estate.
  • (legal) Property given by a groom directly to his bride at or before their wedding in order to legitimize the marriage.
  • * 1610 , , act 3 scene 1
  • (obsolete) That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift.
  • * Sir J. Davies
  • How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower !
  • * Wordsworth
  • Man in his primeval dower arrayed.

    Antonyms

    * (l) * (l)

    See also

    * (l) * ("dower" on Wikipedia)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To give a dower or dowry.
  • To endow.
  • Anagrams

    *

    dowel

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A pin, or block, of wood or metal, fitting into holes in the abutting portions of two pieces, and being partly in one piece and partly in the other, to keep them in their proper relative position.
  • A wooden rod, as one to make short pins from.
  • *
  • (construction) A piece of wood or similar material fitted into a surface not suitable for fastening so that other pieces may fastened to it.
  • Coordinate terms

    * (pin or block of wood or metal) spline, biscuit, tenon * (construction) anchor, screw anchor (US); wall plug (UK).

    Verb

    (dowell)
  • To fasten together with dowels.
  • To furnish with dowels.
  • A cooper dowels pieces for the head of a cask.
    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    *