birth

Where does the word "birth" come from? It comes from Old Norse byrth, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Birth’s story begins in Old Norse: byrth meant “the act of being born.” The act of being born, replacing an earlier native English form. It reached English by 1200s as birth. Settled as the standard English word for coming into life. Today, birth means the emergence of a baby or young animal from its mother's body.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval byrth "the act of being born", the act of being born, replacing an earlier native English form.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s birth "the emergence of a new individual from its mother", settled as the standard English word for coming into life.