Birches

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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}. (Zool.) 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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