The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Throe \Throe\, n. [OE. [thorn]rowe, [thorn]rawe, AS.
   [thorn]re['a] a threatening, oppression, suffering, perhaps
   influenced by Icel. [thorn]r[=a] a throe, a pang, a longing;
   cf. AS. [thorn]reowian to suffer.]
   1. Extreme pain; violent pang; anguish; agony; especially,
      one of the pangs of travail in childbirth, or purturition.
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            Prodogious motion felt, and rueful throes. --Milton.
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   2. A tool for splitting wood into shingles; a frow.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Throe \Throe\, v. i.
   To struggle in extreme pain; to be in agony; to agonize.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Throe \Throe\, v. t.
   To put in agony. [R.] --Shak.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

throe
    n 1: severe spasm of pain; "the throes of dying"; "the throes of
         childbirth"
    2: hard or painful trouble or struggle; "a country in the throes
       of economic collapse"