midwoman

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English

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Etymology

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    Possibly inherited from Middle English midwomman (attested as a hapax legomenon c. 1400). Alternatively, reformed as a blend of midwife +‎ woman.[1][2]

    Noun

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    midwoman (plural midwomen)

    1. (rare, now chiefly Southern US) A midwife.
      Coordinate term: midman
      • 1984, Sharon Webb, Ram Song, New York, N.Y.: Atheneum Books, →ISBN, page 46:
        To banish the thoughts, she made herself think of the boy's mother. They were Tatterdancers. That meant inadequate care, if any. She'd probably been delivered by one of the stave's midwomen.

    References

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    1. ^ “mid-wǒmman, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
    2. ^ “midwoman, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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