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
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
Example sentences from the Web for birch
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, adjectiveWord Origin for birch
Old English
bierce; related to Old High German
birihha, Sanskrit
bhūrja