dow ‧ a ‧ ger /ˈdaʊədʒə, ˈdaʊɪdʒə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: douagiere , from douer 'to give, endow' ]
1 . a woman from a high social class who has land or a title from her dead husband:
the dowager Duchess of Devonshire
2 . informal a respected and impressive old lady