labouring — ODE

labouring /ˈleɪb(ə)rɪŋ

/ (US English laboring)

▸ adjective

1 working at an unskilled manual occupation:

the labouring classes.

2 working or moving with difficulty:

his labouring heart calmed

he had to yell to be heard over the sound of the labouring engine.

▪ (of a ship) rolling or pitching heavily:

occasionally the labouring ship spat the caulking from some underwater seam.

3 (of a woman) in labour; in the process of giving birth:

labouring women can use a flannel or a spray of water to cool themselves down.