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accoucheur

accoucheur

9.9
A male doctor who helps women give birth
  • noun
  • /ˌækuˈʃɜr/
  • Archaic
translation icon : obstetra
  • The experienced accoucheur was called to assist with the difficult delivery in the small hospital.

Examples

  • During the delivery, the accoucheur provided expert care to ensure both mother and baby were safe.

  • Croft, who left a wife, three sons, and a daughter, had been a fashionable accoucheur and the year before had attended Princess Charlotte of Wales during her fatal confinement.

    Blog text (7)
  • These midwives interfered far less than physicians, and thus their patients' maternal death rates were lower than those of "civilized" accoucheurs.

    Academic text (2016)
  • As an accoucheur, his role was crucial in guiding the expectant mother through the childbirth process.

Synonyms

obstetrician
vsaccoucheur
  • Specialized
26 5.7

A doctor who cares for women during pregnancy and birth

refers specifically to a male practitioner rather than any gender specialist
laborist
vsaccoucheur
  • Specialized
8.1

A doctor who works in a hospital to care for women during childbirth

assists childbirth in many settings rather than only hospital labor care

Surface Forms

accoucheur singular
accoucheurs plural

Etymology

The word accoucheur comes from the French verb accoucher, which means 'to give birth', and from couche, meaning 'bed', like the English word couch. So an accoucheur is literally someone who works at the birth 'bed', a man who helps with childbirth.