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

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

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

Let minstrels sweep the skilfu' string, In lordly lighted ha': The Shepherd stops his simple reed, Blythe in the birken shaw.

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Burns, Robert

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

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