What is "assignment of dower"

Assignment \As*sign"ment\, n. [LL. assignamentum: cf. OF. assenement.]

1. An allotting or an appointment to a particular person or use; or for a particular time, as of a cause or causes in court.

2. (Law)

   1. A transfer of title or interest by writing, as of lease, bond, note, or bill of exchange; a transfer of the whole of some particular estate or interest in lands.

   2. The writing by which an interest is transferred.

   3. The transfer of the property of a bankrupt to certain persons called assignees, in whom it is vested for the benefit of creditors.

      Assignment of dower, the setting out by metes and bounds of the widow's thirds or portion in the deceased husband's estate, and allotting it to her.

      Note: Assignment is also used in law as convertible with specification; assignment of error in proceedings for review being specification of error; and assignment of perjury or fraud in indictment being specifications of perjury or fraud.

Dower \Dow"er\, n. [F. douaire, LL. dotarium, from L. dotare to endow, portion, fr. dos dower; akin to Gr. ? gift, and to L. dare to give. See 1st Date, and cf. Dot dowry, Dotation.]

1. That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift.

   How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower!
   --Sir J. Davies.

   Man in his primeval dower arrayed.
   --Wordsworth.

2. The property with which a woman is endowed; especially:

   1. That which a woman brings to a husband in marriage; dowry. [Obs.]

      His wife brought in dower Cilicia's crown.
      --Dryden.

   2. (Law) That portion of the real estate of a man which his widow enjoys during her life, or to which a woman is entitled after the death of her husband.
      --Blackstone.

      Note: 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.
      --Abbott.

      Assignment of dower. See under Assignment.