birch

American  

[burch] / bɜrtʃ /

noun

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

2. the wood itself.

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

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adjective

1. birchen.

verb (used with object)

1. to beat or punish with or as if with a birch.

   The young ruffians were birched soundly by their teacher.

birch British  

/ bɜːtʃ /

noun

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

2. the hard close-grained wood of any of these trees

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

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the birch

2. consisting or made of birch

verb

1. (tr) to flog with a birch

Other Word Forms

• birchen adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

I left the concrete path and shimmied through an opening in the dense bushes that led to deeper green—tall elm, fir, and birch standing together.

From Literature

On the other side of the fence was a white birch woods, above our heads the blue Brabant sky.

From Literature

Torak dropped to the ground and crept through the birch trees to the top of the hill.

From Literature

Our makeshift house was made of birches bent over and tied at the tops and covered with caribou skins.

From Literature

Like the crawl of a black snake, they wound their way beneath tall white sycamores, black gums, birches, and box elders.

From Literature

Related Words

• beat up
• clobber
• crush
• defeat
• maul
• overwhelm
• paste
• pummel
• rout
• spank
• trounce
• whip