Matron
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MATRON. A married woman, generally an elderly married woman.
2. By the laws of England, when a widow feigns herself with child, in
order to exclude the next heir, and a suppositious birth is expected,
then, upon the writ de ventre inspiciendo, a jury of women is to be,
impanelled to try the question, whether with child or not. Cro, Eliz. 566.
So when a woman was sentenced to death, and she declared herself to be quick
with child, a jury of matrons is impanelled to try whether she be or be not
with child. 4 Bl. Com. 395. See Pregnancy; Quick with child.