birch
English
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Betula_Pendula_at_Stockholm_University_2005-07-01.jpg/250px-Betula_Pendula_at_Stockholm_University_2005-07-01.jpg)
Etymology
From Middle English birche, birk, from Old English birċe, bierċe, from Proto-Germanic *birkijǭ (compare West Frisian bjirk, German Birke), variant of *berkō (compare Dutch berk, Swedish björk, Norwegian bjørk), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerHǵos (compare Sanskrit भूर्ज (bhūrjá), Lithuanian béržas, Czech bříza, Ossetian бӕрз (bærz), Russian берёза (berjóza)), Latin fraxinus (“ash tree, ash javelin”)).
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GenAm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: bû(r)ch, IPA(key): /bɝtʃ/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: bû(r)ch, IPA(key): /bɜːtʃ/
Audio (US): (file) - 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.
- A birch-bark canoe.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
tree
|
wood
punishment device
|
birch-bark canoe
|
Verb
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- to punish with a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood.
- to punish as though one were using a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood.
Derived terms
Translations
to punish with a birch
|
to punish as if one were using a birch
Middle English
Noun
birch
- Alternative form of birche
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)tʃ
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Birch family plants
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English nouns