watch-birth

watch-birth

English

Etymology

watch +‎ birth

Noun

watch-birth (plural watch-births)

1. (obsolete) A midwife.
   • 1641 [1578–84], Sylvester, Joshua, trans., “The Magnificence”, in 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.