midwife

MID'WIFE, n. [supposed by Junius and Skinner to be meedwife, a woman that has a reward. This is probably a mistake. The word is a compound of mid, with, and wif,a woman; in analogy with the L. obstetrix, from obsto, obstiti, to stand before. L. cum, with, and madre, mother, which is precisely analogous to midwife.]

A woman that assists other women in childbirth.

MID'WIFE, v.i. To perform the office of midwife.

MID'WIFE, v.t. To assist in childbirth.