reverse dowry

plural reverse dowries

1. A sum of money or other valuables paid by a bridegroom or on his behalf to the family of the bride, in some cultures.

   This bride-gift, a kind of reverse dowry, indicates that grooms had to compete for relatively few brides.

   1978, Carol Meyers, “The Roots of Restriction: Women in Early Israel”, in The Biblical Archaeologist, volume 41, number 3, page 98

   1 more example

   Doug's mother, Lynn Sakowitz Wyatt, reveals that before her father, Bernard, would allow her to marry Coastal Corp. chairman Oscar Wyatt, he negotiated a reverse dowry giving him $1 million in corporate stock.

   1991 September 16, Ned Zeman, “Houston's Sleazy Saga”, in Newsweek

   Synonyms: bride price, dower, dowry, see others at bride price · Antonyms: dowry