“DE DOTE UNDE NIL HABET.

This is a writ of right in its nature …. It must be brought by

the widow as demandant, against the tenant of the freehold, that is, the heir or his alienee, and its

effect is to enable the former to recover from the latter the seisin of a third part of the tenements in

demand, to be set forth to her in severalty by metes and bounds, together with damages and costs.” 1 Alexander M. Burrill, A Law Dictionary and Glossary 433 (2d ed. 1867). [Blacks Law 8th]