mahrn.
/mɑː/, U.S. /mɑr/ Islam.
In Islamic law: the gift which the bridegroom must make to the bride when the marriage contract is made and which becomes her property.The term was used in pre-Islamic times in a sense synonymous with bride price n. at bride n.1 Compounds 1b, the gift being made to the bride's family rather than to the bride herself.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > giving > gift or present > [noun] > wedding gift
spousala1382
mahr1788
wedding-present1854
1788 W. Francklin Observ. Tour Bengal to Persia 45 The usual presents on the part of the bridegroom are promised:..a small sum in ready money of about ten or twelve tomans, which sum is denominated Mehr u Kawèèn, or the marriage portion, it being given for the express purpose of providing for the wife in case of divorce.
1836 E. W. Lane Acct. Manners & Customs Mod. Egyptians I. vi. 198 Having obtained the wekee′l's consent to the union..he asks what is the amount of the required mahr (or dowry).
1919 M. H. Kidwai Woman under Islam 27 One of the most effective means which Islam adopted to safeguard the pecuniary interests of woman after her marriage was through Mahr or antenuptial settlements.
1990 Encycl. Islam (new ed.) VI. 79/1 In earlier times the bride received none of the mahr... But in the period shortly before Muḥammad, the mahr, or at least part of it, seems already to be given to the woman.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1788