birch

[ burch ]

/ bɜrtʃ /

noun

any tree or shrub of the genus Betula, comprising species with a smooth, laminated outer bark and close-grained wood. Compare birch family.

the wood itself.

a birch rod, or a bundle of birch twigs, used especially for whipping.

adjective

birchen.

verb (used with object)

to beat or punish with or as if with a birch: The young ruffians were birched soundly by their teacher.

Origin of birch

before 900; Middle English birche, Old English birce; cognate with Old High German birka (German Birke); akin to Sanskrit bhūrja kind of birch

Words nearby birch

biracial, biradial, biradical, biramous, biratnagar, birch, birch beer, birch family, birch partridge, birch tar oil, birchbark biting

Example sentences from the Web for birch

But you do not have a 50-foot birch lying across your driveway.

The Federal Government Has Violated My Right to Chainsaw |P. J. O’Rourke |April 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Wetlands protected under the “Clean Water Act of 1972” are being polluted with birch beer precursor chemicals.

The Federal Government Has Violated My Right to Chainsaw |P. J. O’Rourke |April 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
It was Birch who took Gilbert and George to China, a trip on which Compston was invited, missed the plane, and came along later.

Joshua Compston Was Once the Wunderkind of the British Art World…and Now He’s Been Practically Forgotten |Anthony Haden-Guest |January 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Russians believe the best way to dry out from vodka saturation is with a sauna session and a beating with birch branches.

The Wildest Hangover Cures From Around the World |Nina Strochlic |November 29, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

Sustainable Cards uses a Nordic birch veneer, and then layers on a cellulosic paper structure.

Wood Cards Are a Green Alternative to the Classic Plastic Gift Card |Daniel Gross |November 29, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
The torches of the main body of the enemy seem to be going out, and very likely their stock of birch bark is all gone.

Brother Against Brother |Oliver Optic
The too common mistake is to try to imitate oak by staining pine or poplar or birch.

Carpentry for Boys |J. S. Zerbe
These are swampy and overgrown with birch and scarcely known by name to many Russians.

Ways of War and Peace |Delia Austrian
"Master Brunswood says that he will birch whoever cometh late," objected Hal Saddler.

Master Skylark |John Bennett
See the evidence for this extraordinary story fully stated in Birch's Negotiations.

Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth |Lucy Aikin

British Dictionary definitions for birch

birch

/ (bɜːtʃ) /

noun

any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula, having thin peeling bark See also silver birch

the hard close-grained wood of any of these trees

the birch a bundle of birch twigs or a birch rod used, esp formerly, for flogging offenders

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the birch

consisting or made of birch

verb

(tr) to flog with a birch

Derived forms of birch

birchen, adjective

Word Origin for birch

Old English bierce; related to Old High German birihha, Sanskrit bhūrja

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

birch

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

Origin of birch

Words nearby birch

Example sentences from the Web for birch

British Dictionary definitions for birch

noun

adjective

verb

Derived forms of birch

Word Origin for birch

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

birch

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

Origin of birch

Words nearby birch

Words related to birch

Example sentences from the Web for birch

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for birch

noun

adjective

verb

Derived forms of birch

Word Origin for birch

British Dictionary definitions for birch