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

The birkie is gettin' his Questions To say in Saint Stephen's the morn.

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns

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

From The Disentanglers by Andrew Lang

A lord, no doubt, may be a "birkie" and a "coof," but may not a ploughman be so too?

From Robert Burns by John Campbell Shairp

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

Look ye hear, my bit birkie," says Sandy, gien a gey wild-like wink wi' his richt e'e, "you speak when ye're spoken till!

From My Man Sandy by J. B. Salmond

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