birch

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English birche, birk, from Old English birċe, bierċe, from Proto-West Germanic *birkijā, from Proto-Germanic *birkijǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerHǵos. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) enPR: bû(r)ch, IPA(key): /bɜːtʃ/ (US) enPR: bû(r)ch, IPA(key): /bɝt͡ʃ/ Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)tʃ === Noun === birch (countable and uncountable, plural birches) Any of various trees of the genus Betula, native to countries in the Northern Hemisphere. A hard wood taken from the birch tree, typically used to make furniture. A stick, rod or bundle of twigs made from birch wood, used for punishment. Synonyms: makepeace, switch A birch-bark canoe. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === birch (third-person singular simple present birches, present participle birching, simple past and past participle birched) (transitive) To punish with a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood. (transitive) To punish as though one were using a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === “birch”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “birch”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. == Middle English == === Noun === birch alternative form of birche