2026-05-05 15:13 UTC
@vagina_museum
From Middle English midwif, corresponding to mid (“with”) + wif (“woman, wife, female”). It appears not to be entirely clear whether the original understanding was “with-woman” in the sense of “attending/assisting woman”, or “they who are with the woman” (namely the mother).
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/midwife
Replies (1)
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@jerrej@mastodon.social 2026-05-05 16:24
@vagina_museum Adding to that, in those times you would not normally accept a man to assist in your childbirth. Exactly nobody did that in middle English times. So bye bye to your attempt at revisionist etymology. But let's please carry on with the celebration.