howdie

American  

[hou-dee, ou-, hoh-dee, oh-dee] / ˈhaʊ di, ˈaʊ-, ˈhoʊ di, ˈoʊ di /

noun

Scot. and North England Slang.

1. a midwife.

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Etymology

Origin of howdie

Origin uncertain

Example Sentences

There's mirth among the kin when the howdie cries "A son."

From The Proverbs of Scotland by Hislop, Alexander

Jenny cried, wi' blushing cheeks, 'Eneugh! we've seen the Skipper's breeks, Sic zeal may weel become a howdie, I draw the line at breeks,' quo' Jenny Braidie.

From A Golfing Idyll or The Skipper's Round with the Deil On the Links of St. Andrews by Flint, Violet

I was at my wits' en', For Tibbie the howdie was fou, An' e'en had I got her to traivel the road What use was she mair than the soo?

From The Auld Doctor and other Poems and Songs in Scots by Rorie, David

But saw ye ne’er some pingein’ bairn As weak as a pitaty-par’n’— Less �sed wi’ guidin’ horse-shoe aim Than steerin’ crowdie— Packed aff his lane, by moss an’ cairn, To ca’ the howdie.

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 14 (of 25) by Stevenson, Robert Louis

The creeshie rax wi' skelpin' kaes  Nae mair the howdie bicker whangs, Nor weanies in their wee bit claes  Glour light as lammies wi' their sangs.

From The Humorous Poetry of the English Language; from Chaucer to Saxe by Parton, James