As for the Latin term, "ventris," wouldn't that literally be "of the belly," not "of the womb?"

Geoff, for what it's worth, ventre means both "womb" and "belly" in Portuguese.

Anyway, here's something I don't think has been addressed yet: we have both expressions, "fruit of the womb" and "fruit of the loom." How/when did one beget the other, if that is indeed the case? Was this a stroke of marketing genius on the part of the underwear boys or did it happen before?