Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
watch-birth. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
watch-birth, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
watch-birth in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
watch-birth you have here. The definition of the word
watch-birth will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
watch-birth, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
watch + birth
Noun
watch-birth (plural watch-births)
- (obsolete) A midwife.
1641 [1578–84], “The Magnificence”, in Sylvester, Joshua, transl., Du Bartas His Diuine Weekes and Workes, translation of Semaines by Du Bartas, Guillaume de Salluste, page 215:This Pattern pleas'd thee ſo, th' haſt fram'd by it,
Th' eternall Watch-births of thy ſacred Wit:
Thy pithy Book of Proverbs richly-grave,
Unto the PORCH may rich relation have:
For that it gives us Oeconomike Lawes,
Rules Politike, and Private civill Sawes;
And for (the moſt) thoſe Leſſons generall
At Humane matters ayme the moſt of all.