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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

birkie

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 James Mudge

Div a look like an English birkie, or ane o’ the gentry?’

From The Disentanglers by Andrew Lang

The young birkie had neither hat nor shoon, but he did not spare the stick; round and round they flew like daft.

From Amusing Prose Chap Books by Various

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 David Macbeth Moir

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

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