parapherna

Meaning

Noun

• A woman's property which was not made a part of her marriage dower but remained her own.

Origin

• From Latin parapherna, and ultimately from Ancient Greek παρά + φερνή (“things additional to a dowry”). In the propertied classes, a dowry was placed under the control of the husband, while the 'paraphernalia' which she brought with her remained the wife’s property.