Dowry – Payment made to the father in a betrothal contract.
God used this word 4 times in Scripture, with every occurrence being in Israel’s Masoretic Text Old Testament.
In the 1400s Christianity redefined this word to mean “Money, goods, or estate which a woman brings to her husband at marriage”. A complete reversal of the original meaning.
Today the definition also includes “The portion of a late husband’s real property allowed to a widow for her life.” Which has nothing at all to do with the original meaning.
See also Betrothed, Concubine, Endow, Husband, Spouse, Virgin, Wife