birch
UK[bɜːtʃ]US[bɜːrtʃ]
n
a type of tree with smooth bark and thin branches, or the hard wood from this tree
n
a bundle of birch twigs used in the past for hitting people as a punishment
v
to hit someone with a birch stick as a punishment, especially in the past
Etymology
the word 'birch' originates from the old english 'bierce' or 'beorc', which is of common germanic stock, related to old norse 'bjǫrk', old high german 'birihha', and gothic 'bairka'. these all trace back to the proto-germanic 'berkō', which is itself derived from the proto-indo-european root 'bʰerHǵ-', meaning 'to shine, white, bright'. this root aptly describes the tree's distinctive, luminous white bark. the semantic journey is direct, with the name of the tree being inherited from a descriptive characteristic of its most striking visual feature. the verb sense, meaning to punish with a birch rod, is a later development from the noun, utilizing the tree's flexible twigs.
Analysis
the word 'birch' is a simplex word of germanic origin. it cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
the forest was predominantly composed of slender birch trees.
in some historical schools, misbehavior could result in a birching.
the canoe was traditionally made from birch bark.