birch

v. whip with a birch rod

n. type of tree; bundle of birch twigs used for whipping

Birch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula (Bé-tu-la), in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. These are generally small to medium-size trees or shrubs, mostly of northern temperate climates. The simple leaves may be toothed or lobed. The fruit is a small samara, although the wings may be obscure in some species. They differ from the alders (Alnus, the other genus in the family) in that the female catkins are not woody and disintegrate at maturity, falling apart to release the seeds, unlike the woody cone-like female alder catkins.
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Noun
1. hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood
(hypernym) wood
(substance-holonym) birch tree
2. any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a thin peeling bark
(synonym) birch tree
(hypernym) tree
(hyponym) yellow birch, Betula alleghaniensis, Betula leutea
(member-holonym) Betula, genus Betula
3. bundle of birch twigs used to hit people as punishment
(synonym) birch rod
(hypernym) switch
Verb
1. whip with a birch twig
(hypernym) flog, welt, whip, lather, lash, slash, strap, trounce
(derivation) birch rod
Adjective
1. consisting of or made of wood of the birch tree
(synonym) birchen, birken
(similar) woody

n. Birchism, principles taken from the anti-communist organization founded by John Birch

(v. t.)
To whip with a birch rod or twig; to flog.
  

(n.)
The wood or timber of the birch.
  

(n.)
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).
  

(n.)
A birch-bark canoe.
  

(n.)
A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.
  

(a.)
Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen.