Birthwort
/ˈbɜːrθ.wɜːrt/noun
Any of several plants of the genus Aristolochia, historically used in herbal medicine.
Did you know?Birthwort got its name because medieval herbalists associated it with childbirth, and its roots were used in remedies long before modern medicine exposed the plant’s toxicity.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
bīrð
“birth, the act of being born”
Old English
OE
wyrt
“plant, herb, root, or vegetable”
Middle English
ME
birthwort
“a plant believed useful in childbirth”
16th Century
English
birthwort
“a medicinal herb, especially Aristolochia species”
Modern English
English
birthwort
“any of several herbs of the genus Aristolochia”