By custom, the widow was entitled to one-third of her late husband's estate as her dower.

dower 是名词，来自古法语"douaire"，指"寡妇应得的遗产份额"。在法律术语中特指"寡妇产"，即寡妇有权继承亡夫部分财产的权利。这个词在现代英语中较少使用，主要用于历史或法律语境。