Paraphernalia - Encyclopedia

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

PARAPHERNALIA (Lat. paraphernalia, sc. bona, from Gr. 7rap6,4Epva; rapa, beside, and 4Epvri, dower), a term originally of Roman law, signifying all the property which a married woman who was sui juris held apart from her dower (dos). A husband could not deal with such except with his wife's consent. Modern systems of law, which are based on the Roman, mainly follow the same principle, and the word preserves its old meaning. In English and Scottish law the term is confined to articles of jewelry, dress and other purely personal things, for the law relating to which see Husband And Wife. The word is also used in a general sense of accessories, external equipment, cumbersome or showy trappings.