terce

a widow’s legal entitlement to a liferent of one-third of her husband’s heritable property; her entitlement in respect of his moveable property being the jus relictae.   If a special, alternative provision had been made for her in her marriage contract (the jointure), she would, after 1681, have lost her right to a terce, unless it had been specified in the contract that she should have that as well.