[θrəʊz], (Noun)

Definitions:
- intense or violent pain and struggle, especially accompanying birth, death, or great change
(e.g: he convulsed in his death throes)


Phrases:
- in the throes of

Origin:
Middle English throwe (singular); perhaps related to Old English thrēa, thrawu ‘calamity’, influenced by thrōwian ‘suffer’