birken

American  

[bur-kuhn, bir-kuhn] / ˈbɜr kən, ˈbɪr kən /

adjective

Scot. and North England.

1. birchen; birch.

---

Etymology

Origin of birken

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at birk, -en ²

Example Sentences

I. By Auchtertyre grows the aik, On Yarrow banks the birken shaw; But Phemie was a bonnier lass Than braes of Yarrow ever saw.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

An' sweet the birken trees amang, Swells many a blithesome lay; An' loud the bratlin burnie's voice Comes soundin' up the brae.

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume V. The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century by Rogers, Charles

They hunted high, they hunted low, By heathery hill and birken shaw; They raised a buck on Rooken Edge, And blew the mort at fair Ealylawe.

From Ballads of Scottish Tradition and Romance Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Third Series by Sidgwick, Frank

Afore the Lammas tide   Had dwin’d the birken tree,In a’ our water-side,   Nae wife was blest like me:A kind gudeman, and twa   Sweet bairns were round me here;But they’re a’ ta’en awa’,   Sin’ the fa’ o’ the year.

From Literary and General Lectures and Essays by Kingsley, Charles

Down the burnie wirks its way Aneath the bending birken spray, An' wimples roun' the green moss-stane, An' mourns.

From My Schools and Schoolmasters or The Story of my Education. by Miller, Hugh