Definitions for: Birch


[n] bundle of birch twigs used to hit people as punishment
[n] any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a thin peeling bark
[n] hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
[adj] consisting of or made of wood of the birch tree
[v] whip with a birch twig



Webster (1913) Definition: Birch (b[~e]rch), n.; pl. Birches (-[e^]z). [OE.
birche, birk, AS. birce, beorc; akin to Icel. bj["o]rk, Sw.
bj["o]rk, Dan. birk, D. berk, OHG. piricha, MHG. birche,
birke, G. birke, Russ. bereza, Pol. brzoza, Serv. breza, Skr.
bh[=u]rja. [root]254. Cf. 1st Birk.]
1. A tree of several species, constituting the genus
Betula; as, the white or common birch (B. alba) (also
called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch ({B.
glandulosa}); the paper or canoe birch (B. papyracea);
the yellow birch (B. lutea); the black or cherry birch
(B. lenta).

2. The wood or timber of the birch.

3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.

Note: The twigs of the common European birch (B. alba), being
tough and slender, were formerly much used for rods in
schools. They were also made into brooms.

The threatening twigs of birch. --Shak.

4. A birch-bark canoe.

Birch of Jamaica, a species (Bursera gummifera) of
turpentine tree.

Birch partridge. (Zo["o]l.) See Ruffed grouse.

Birch wine, wine made of the spring sap of the birch.

Oil of birch.
(a) An oil obtained from the bark of the common European
birch (Betula alba), and used in the preparation of
genuine (and sometimes of the imitation) Russia
leather, to which it gives its peculiar odor.
(b) An oil prepared from the black birch (B. lenta),
said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for
which it is largely sold.


Birch, a.
Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen.


Birch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Birched (b[~e]rcht); p. pr.
& vb. n. Birching.]
To whip with a birch rod or twig; to flog.

Synonyms: birch rod, birch tree, birchen, birken, woody

See Also: American dwarf birch, American gray birch, American white birch, Betula, Betula alleghaniensis, Betula cordifolia, Betula fontinalis, Betula glandulosa, Betula lenta, Betula leutea, Betula neoalaskana, Betula nigra, Betula papyrifera, Betula pendula, Betula populifolia, Betula pubescens, birch, black birch, canoe birch, cherry birch, common birch, downy birch, European white birch, flog, genus Betula, gray birch, lash, lather, mountain birch, Newfoundland dwarf birch, paper birch, red birch, river birch, silver birch, slash, strap, swamp birch, sweet birch, switch, tree, trounce, water birch, welt, Western birch, Western paper birch, whip, white birch, wood, yellow birch, Yukon white birch

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals begin with x
animlas that start with c
j letter animals