n. [ Cf. G. döbel peg, F. douelle state of a cask, surface of an arch, douille socket, little pipe, cartridge. ] (Mech.) 1. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece of wood driven into a wall, so that other pieces may be nailed to it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dowel joint, a joint secured by a dowel or dowels. --
Dowel pin, a dowel. See Dowel, n., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Doweled it>or Dowelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Doweling or Dowelling. ] To fasten together by dowels; to furnish with dowels; as, a cooper dowels pieces for the head of a cask. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. fastening by dowels. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. douaire, LL. dotarium, from L. dotare to endow, portion, fr. dos dower; akin to Gr. &unr_; 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower! Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

Man in his primeval dower arrayed. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The property with which a woman is endowed; especially: (a) That which a woman brings to a husband in marriage; dowry. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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

(b) (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Assignment of dower. See under Assignment. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. a. Furnished with, or as with, dower or a marriage portion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of dower; having no marriage portion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Dower. [ 1913 Webster ]