Dowager \Dow"a*ger\, n. [OF. douagiere, fr. douage dower. See Dower.]

1. (Eng. Law) A widow endowed, or having a jointure; a widow who either enjoys a dower from her deceased husband, or has property of her own brought by her to her husband on marriage, and settled on her after his decease. --Blount. --Burrill.

2. A title given in England to a widow, to distinguish her from the wife of her husband's heir bearing the same name; -- chiefly applied to widows of personages of rank.

With prudes for proctors, dowagers for deans. --Tennyson.

Queen dowager, the widow of a king.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)