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childbirth

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃaɪldˌbɝθ/

The English word “childbirth” has 1 meaning listed here.

noun

  1. The fact or action of giving birth to a child, as the culmination of pregnancy; the process by which it happens.

Etymology

From Middle English childbyrth [and other forms], perhaps a partial calque of Old Norse barnburðr (“childbearing, childbirth”, literally “bairn birth”); equivalent to child + birth. Compare Swedish barnsbörd (“childbirth”), Icelandic barnsburður (“childbirth”).

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