accouchement

[French, from accoucher, to assist in childbirth, from Old French : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + coucher, to lay down; see couch.]

noun

The act or process of bringing forth young: birth, birthing, childbearing, childbirth, delivery, labor, lying-in, parturition, travail. See start/end.

The act of giving birth to a child.

The fact of accouchement may be proved by the direct testimony of someone who was present, such as a midwife or a physician, at the time of birth. It may be significant in proving parentage; for example, where there is some question about who is entitled to inherit property from an elderly person who died leaving only distant relatives.

Tutor's tip: This word was used in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.