maternity (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[maternity 词源字典]
1610s, "quality or condition of being a mother," from French maternité "motherhood" (15c.), from Medieval Latin maternitatem (nominative maternitas) "motherhood," from Latin maternus (see maternal). Used from 1893 as a quasi-adjective in reference to garments designed for pregnant women.[maternity etymology, maternity origin, 英语词源]