‖ douairière, n. rare.
(dwɛrjɛr)
[Fr.: see dower n.2 The Fr. word was earlier borrowed into English as dowrier n.]
A dowager.
| 1869 G. Meredith Let. 16 Aug. (1970) I. 390 The person proposed by the douairière young and with money. 1919 R. Firbank Valmouth xi. 206 ‘Have you any intention, Eulalia,’ a douairière inquired, ‘of visiting the present châtelaine of Nosely?’ |