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

See Examples For:

birkie

Hardly was his back turned, and amaist before ye could cry Jack Robison, in comes the birkie and the very young leddy the auld gentleman described arm and arm thegither, smoodging and lauching like daft.

From Amusing Prose Chap Books by Various

And maybe that’s the reason every silly birkie thinks he has the right to cast up to me that I am an auld maid.

From The Dew of Their Youth by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

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

But she's wasted on yon birkie ca'd a lord.'

From Mummery A Tale of Three Idealists by Cannan, Gilbert

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