Found 2 items, similar to Birch.
English → English (WordNet)
Definition: birch
birch
n 1: hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used
especially in furniture and interior finishes and
plywood
2: any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a
thin peeling bark [syn:
birch tree]
3: bundle of birch twigs used to hit people as punishment [syn:
birch rod]
birch
adj : consisting of or made of wood of the birch tree [syn:
birchen,
birken]
birch
v : whip with a birch twig
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Birch
Birch
\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 (
Betula alba)
(also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch
(
Betula glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (
Betula papyracea
); the yellow birch (
Betula lutea); the black
or cherry birch (
Betula lenta).
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2. The wood or timber of the birch.
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3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.
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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.
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The threatening twigs of birch. --Shak.
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4. A birch-bark canoe.
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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 (
Betula lenta),
said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for
which it is largely sold.
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Birch
\Birch\, a.
Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen.
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Birch
\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.
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