general, denotes a close application to work or business.—Among seamen a ship is said to be in labour when she rolls and tumbles very much, either a hull, under sail, or at anchor.—It is also spoken of a woman in travail or child birth; see Midwifery.

Labourer, generally signifies one that does the most flattery and least artful part of a laborious work, as that of husbandry, masonry, &c.

Laboureur (John le), almoner to the king of France, and prior of Juvigne, was born at Montmorency near Paris in 1623. At the age of 18, he distinguished himself by publishing "A collection of the monuments of illustrious persons buried in the church of the Celestines at Paris, with their elogies, genealogies, arms, and mottoes," 4to. He afterwards published an excellent edition of The Memoirs of Michael de Cattelnau, with several other genealogical histories; and died in 1675.—He had a brother, Louis le Laboureur, bailiff of Montmorency, author of several pieces of poetry; and an uncle, Dom Claude le Laboureur, provost of the abbey of L'isle Barbe, of which abbey he wrote a history, and published notes and corrections upon the breviary of Lyons, with some other things.