family way

Origin of family way

First recorded in 1790–1800

Mrs. Stoddart conjectures she is in the family-way again, and those kind of conjectures generally prove too true.

Mary Lamb |Anne Burrows Gilchrist
Oh, in order that the overseers may not work the women in the family-way overmuch.

Pictures of Southern Life |William Howard Russell
The princess became in the family-way; and the king was obliged to go to another kingdom.

Basque Legends |Wentworth Webster
She is in the family-way, this summer 1737, a very young lady still; result thought to be due—When?

History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. X. (of XXI.) |Thomas Carlyle

If a woman in the family-way looks into the window, where there is a corpse, the baby will be dumb.

The Folk-Tales of the Magyars |Various