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

I was bewildered—the light in the room made my een reel; but I soon came to myself, when I saw a man and Mrs. Kemp the howdie busy rowing something in flannel.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXIII by Wilson, John Mackay

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

Malcolm looked about, and replied, pressing Duncan's arm, and speaking in a low voice, far less audible than his whisper, "There's naebody near, daddy—naebody but the howdie wife."

From Malcolm by MacDonald, George

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

A woman living at Kildonan, on the north shore of Little Loch Broom, and exercising the useful profession of howdie, or midwife, had been summoned to attend a case at Keppoch.

From Literary Tours in The Highlands and Islands of Scotland by Holmes, Daniel Turner