curtesy
noun
cur·te·sy ˈkər-tə-sē 
plural curtesies
: a husband's interest upon the death of his wife in the real property of an estate that she either solely owned or inherited provided they bore a child capable of inheriting the estate compare dower
Word History
Etymology
Middle English corteisie courtesy
First Known Use
1523, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
curtesy
noun
cur·te·sy ˈkər-tə-sē
plural curtesies
: a husband's interest at common law in a life estate upon the death of his wife in the real property that she either solely owned or inherited provided that they bore a child capable of inheriting the property compare dower, elective share