Is 'birth' English, or is it actually Scandinavian?

'Birth' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'birth'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

birth [noun] [13th century]

• the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent
• the act or process of bringing forth young from the womb
• a state resulting from being born especially at a particular time or place
• lineage

See 'birth' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Scandinavian.

Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse 'byrth;' akin to Old English 'beran'

See more loan words from 1200s.