I. ˈbərch noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English beorc; akin to Old High German birka birch, Old English beorht bright, and probably to Latin fraxinus ash tree — more at bright
Date: before 12th century
1. : any of a genus ( Betula of the family Betulaceae, the birch family) of monoecious deciduous usually short-lived trees or shrubs having simple petioled leaves and typically a layered membranous outer bark that peels readily
2. : the hard pale close-grained wood of a birch
3. : a birch rod or bundle of twigs for flogging
• birch or birch·en ˈbər-chən adjective
II. transitive verb
Date: 1830
: to beat with or as if with a birch : whip