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birch
birch [OE birce]. The deciduous hardwood tree with slender branches and distinctive smooth white or grey bark, genus Betula, has attracted an extensive body of folk belief in Celtic countries. The ogham alphabet of early Ireland associated the Roman letter B with birch. In Wales the birch tree is much associated with love; a lover's bower usually stands beneath a birch tree or in a birch bush. The maypole is usually made of birch; wreaths of birch may be presented as love tokens. The name Bedwyr may mean ‘birch hero’. On the isle of Colonsay in Gaelic Scotland, mothers put birch boughs over the cradles and carriages of babies to protect them from fairies. ModIr. beith; ScG beithe; Manx beih; W bedwen; Corn. besewen; Bret. bezvenn.
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JAMES MacKILLOP. "birch." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "birch." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-birch.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "birch." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-birch.html |
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birch
birch Any of c.40 species of trees and shrubs native to cooler areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The double-toothed leaves are oval or triangular with blunt bases and arranged alternately along branches. The smooth, resinous bark peels off in papery sheets. Male catkins droop, whereas smaller female catkins stand upright and develop into cone-like clusters with tiny, one-seeded nuts. Well-known species include the grey, silver, sweet, and yellow birches. Height: up to 40m (130ft). Family Betulaceae; genus Betula.
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"birch." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "birch." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-birch.html "birch." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-birch.html |
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birch
birch / bərch/ • n. (also birch tree) a slender, fast-growing tree (genus Betula, family Betulaceae) that has thin bark (often peeling) and bears catkins. Birches grow chiefly in north temperate regions. ∎ (also birchwood) the hard fine-grained pale wood of any of these trees. |
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"birch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "birch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-birch.html "birch." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-birch.html |
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birch
birch OE. bi(e)rċe = MLG. berke, OHG. birka (G. birke) :- Gmc. *berkjōn; rel. to synon. OE. be(o)rc = Du. berk, ON. bjǫrk :- Gmc. *berkō; Cf. Skr. bhūrja-, L. farnus, fraxinus ash-tree.
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T. F. HOAD. "birch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "birch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-birch.html T. F. HOAD. "birch." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-birch.html |
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Birch
Birch Essex. Bric(ce)iam 1086 (DB), Brich 1194. Probably identical in origin and meaning with the next name.
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A. D. MILLS. "Birch." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. A. D. MILLS. "Birch." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Birch.html A. D. MILLS. "Birch." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Birch.html |
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birch
birch See BETULA.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "birch." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "birch." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-birch.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "birch." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-birch.html |
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birch
birch
•besmirch, birch, church, lurch, perch, search, smirch
•Christchurch • pikeperch
•wordsearch
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"birch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "birch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-birch.html "birch." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-birch.html |
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