Bot. [f. BIRTH1 + WORT.] The genus of shrubs ARISTOLOCHIA.
[1548. Turner, Names Herbes (1881), 15. Astrolochia or round hertworte.] Ibid. (1551), Herbal (1568), 43. Aristolochia rotunda … may be called in Englyshe … round byrthwurte: because it helpeth wymen to brynge furth theyr byrth.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 44. The long Birthwort is a Root like a Radish.
1861. Delamer, Fl. Gard., 110. Birthwort—Aristolochia.
