Navel String
/ˈneɪ.vəl strɪŋ/noun
The cord-like structure that connects a developing fetus to its mother in the womb.
Did you know?In some ancient cultures, the navel string was believed to hold magical properties, linking the spirit of the child to the mother and the cosmos.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nabh-
“to be swollen, to be full (referring to the belly or womb)”
Latin
Latin
navis
“ship, which often referred to the womb as a vessel of life”
Old English
Old English
nafela
“navel, belly button, or umbilical region”
Middle English
Middle English
navel
“the central point or hub, later signifying the umbilical cord”
Modern English
English
navel string
“the cord connecting the unborn child to the placenta, signifying life and connection”