[Fr., n. of agent f. accoucher: see ACCOUCHE v.] Properly a man who assists women in child-birth, a man-midwife; but until the very recent adoption of the Fr. accoucheuse, used of both sexes. Also fig.
1759. Sterne, Trist. Shandy (1802), II. xii. 181. Nothing will serve you but to carry off the man-midwife.—Accoucheur,—if you please, quoth Dr. Slop.
1775. in Phil. Trans., LXV. 312. To an experienced accoucheur will be a sufficient index.
1810. Edin. Rev., XVII. 147. A violent philippic against accoucheurs in general.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil (1863), 43. His father was only an accoucheur.
1847. Lewes, Hist. Philos. (1867), I. 127. He [Socrates] was an accoucheur of ideas. He assisted ideas in their birth, and, having brought them into light, he examined them, to see if they were fit to live; if true, they were welcomed; if false, destroyed.
1848. H. Rogers, Ess., I. VI. 328. All the progeny of poor Theatetus … expire as soon as they see the light, under the rude hand of this logical accoucheur.
1859. Edin. Rev., CIX. 332/1. Mrs. Hockley was a professional accoucheur for many years.
