birkie

American  

[bur-kee, bir-kee] / ˈbɜr ki, ˈbɪr ki /

noun

Scot.

1. an aggressive, independent man.

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birkie British  

/ ˈbɪrkɪ /

noun

1. a spirited or lively person

2. a foolish posturer

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Etymology

Origin of birkie

First recorded in 1715–25; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

You see yon birkie ca'd a lord, Wha struts and stares, and a' that: Though hundreds worship at his word He's but a coof for a' that.

From Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul by Mudge, James

Ye’re the English gentleman birkie that cam’ to Kirkburn yestreen. 

From The Disentanglers by Lang, Andrew

Hardly was his back turned, and almost before ye could cry Jack Robison, in comes the birkie and the very young lady the old gentleman described, arm-and-arm together, smoodging and laughing like daft. 

From The Life of Mansie Wauch Tailor in Dalkeith, written by himself by Moir, David Macbeth

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 Burns, Robert

"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 West, Rebecca