travail

(noun) concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of contractions to the birth of a child. Synonyms: parturiency, labor, labour, confinement, lying-in, childbed. Example: "She was in labor for six hours."

(noun) use of physical or mental energy; hard work. Synonyms: effort, elbow grease, exertion, sweat. Examples: "He got an a for effort." "They managed only with great exertion."

(verb) work hard. Synonyms: labor, labour, toil, fag, grind, drudge, dig, moil. Examples: "She was digging away at her math homework." "Lexicographers drudge all day long."