birken

American  

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

adjective

Scot. and North England.

1. birchen; birch.

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Etymology

Origin of birken

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

Example Sentences

I 'll hail Lochaber's valleys green, Where many a rill meanders; I 'll hail wi' joy, its birken bowers, For there Louisa wanders.

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume II. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century by Rogers, Charles

And come ye here, my son," he cried, "To wander in my birken shade?

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Burns, Robert

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

O weary winter soon will pass, And spring will cleed the birken shaw: clothe, birch woods And my young babie will be born, And he'll be hame that's far awa.

From Robert Burns How To Know Him by Neilson, William Allan

At thorny bush, or birken tree, We 'll daff and never weary, O!

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume I. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century by Rogers, Charles