English edit

Etymology edit

Attested since 1727. Borrowed from French accoucheur, from accoucher (to go to childbed, be delivered), from Old French culcher (to lie), from Latin collocō (I place, put, set in order, assign), from con- + locō (I put, place, set). See accouchement.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

accoucheur (plural accoucheurs)

  1. (medicine) A person, especially a man, who delivers a baby (in childbirth).
    • 1951 February, Forrest H. Howard, “The Physiologic Position for Delivery”, in Northwest Medicine, volume 50, number 2, Portland, Ore.: Northwest Medical Publishing Association, page 98:
      And lastly, obstetrical chairs seemed most natural to the accoucheurs of the middle ages.
    • 1992, Hilary Mantel, A Place of Greater Safety, Harper Perennial, published 2007, page 163:
      Family story: on the day of his birth the accoucheur approached his father, the baby wrapped in a cloth.

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

See also edit

French edit

Etymology edit

From accoucher +‎ -eur.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

accoucheur m (plural accoucheurs, feminine accoucheuse)

  1. midwife (male)
  2. obstetrician

Descendants edit

  • English: accoucheur
  • Polish: akuszer
  • Russian: акушер (akušer)

Further reading edit