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A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the white or common birch (B. alba) (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch (B. glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (B. papyracea); the yellow birch (B. lutea); the black or cherry birch (B. lenta).

Of or relating to birch. He passed where Newark's stately tower Looks out from Yarrow's birchen bower. Sir W. Scott.

ls of infusoria, and in Lapland and Sweden is sometimes eaten, mixed with flour or ground birch bark, in times of scarcity. This name is also given to a white powdery variety of calcite.

A substance of a resinous nature, obtained from the outer bark of the common European birch (Betula alba), or from the tar prepared therefrom; -- called also birch camphor. Watts.

A birch tree. [Prov. Eng.] "The silver birk." Tennyson.

To whip with a birch or rod. [Obs.]

A boat made of bark or skins, used by savages. A birch canoe, with paddles, rising, falling, on the water. Longfellow.

To treat with cruel playfulness, as a cat treats a mouse; to abuse. [Obs.] Birch.

To adorn, as with feathers; to fringe. A few birches and oaks still feathered the narrow ravines. Sir W. Scott.

To come between. [R.] Self-sown woodlands of birch, alder, etc., intervening the different estates. De Quincey.

Having a monopodium or a single and continuous axis, as a birchen twig or a cornstalk.

Hanging; suspended; pendent; pendulous. Bacon. The long, pensile branches of the birches. W. Howitt.

drumming sound he makes during the breeding season. Called also tippet grouse, partridge, birch partridge, pheasant, drummer, and white-flesher. -- ruffed lemur (Zoöl.), a species of lemur (lemur varius) having a conspicuous ruff on the sides of the head. Its color is varied with black and white. Called also ruffed ma…

ut now elsewhere, having a peculiar odor from being impregnated with an oil obtained from birch bark. It is much used in bookbinding, on account of its not being subject to mold, and being proof against insects. -- Russia matting, matting manufactured in Russia from the inner bark of the linden (Tilia Europæa).…

nsisting of the inspissated juices or decoctions of certain vegetables, as the sap of the birch, sycamore, and the like. Treacle mustard (Bot.), a name given to several species of the cruciferous genus Erysimum, especially the E. cheiranthoides, which was formerly used as an ingredient in Venice treacle, or theriac. -…

A rope or halter made of flexible twigs, or withes, as of birch. [Scot.]

e effect of drinking wine in excess; intoxication. Noah awoke from his wine. Gen. ix. 24. Birch wine, Cape wine, etc. See under Birch, Cape, etc. -- Spirit of wine. See under Spirit. -- To have drunk wine of ape or wine ape, to be so drunk as to be foolish. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Wine acid. (Chem.) See Tartaric acid, un…

n or blue pigment produced by Peziza in certain kinds of decayed wood, as the beech, oak, birch, etc., and extracted as an amorphous powder resembling indigo.