What does "birthwort" mean?

Any plant of the genus Aristolochia.

Birthwort

Common synonyms include: abortifacient herb, aristolochia, aristolochia clematitis, birthwort plant, emmenagogue, nephrotoxic plant.

noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
Any plant of the genus Aristolochia. countable, uncountable
2
creeping plant having curving flowers thought to resemble fetuses; native to Europe; naturalized Great Britain and eastern North America wordnet
3
Birthroot (Trillium erectum). countable, uncountable

From birth + wort, as it was formerly used medicinally to treat mothers suffering illnesses associated with childbirth.