birkie
Americannoun
noun
-
a spirited or lively person
-
a foolish posturer
Etymology
Origin of birkie
First recorded in 1715–25; of uncertain origin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ye’re wae men, ye’re nae men That slight the lovely dears; To shame ye, disclaim ye, Ilk honest birkie swears.
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 Robert Burns
"Yon Lord Curzon's an impudent birkie," she said, with a rush of tears to her eyes that seemed even to herself an excessive comment on Lord Curzon; then the knock came.
From The Judge by Rebecca West
Div a look like an English birkie, or ane o’ the gentry?’
From The Disentanglers by Andrew Lang
And there will be Kempleton's birkie, A boy no sae black at the bane; But as to his fine Nabob fortune, We'll e'en let the subject alane.
From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns
As the young birkie grew up, he soon gave evidence of being a sad scapegrace.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 15 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
