I. ˈbərch, ˈbə̄ch, ˈbəich noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English birche, birk, from Old English birce, beorc; akin to Old High German birka birch, Old Norse björk birch, Latin fraxinus ash tree, Sanskrit bhūrja birch, Old English beorht bright — more at bright
1.
a. : a tree of the genus Betula — see paper birch , river birch , sweet birch , white birch , yellow birch
b. Australia : piripiri
c. New Zealand : any of various trees resembling those of the genus Betula (as the kamahi or the native beeches)
d. : gumbo-limbo
2. : the wood or timber of the birch
3. : a birch rod or a bundle of twigs for whipping an offender : switch
4. : birchbark
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
: to beat with or as if with a birch : cane , whip : punish (as a schoolboy) by caning or whipping