different between birch vs widdy

English

Etymology

From Middle English birche, birk, from Old English bir?e, bier?e, from Proto-West Germanic *birkij?, from Proto-Germanic *birkij?, from Proto-Indo-European *b?erH?os.

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: bû(r)ch, IPA^(key): /b?t?/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: bû(r)ch, IPA^(key): /b??t?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)t?

Noun

birch (countable and uncountable, plural birches)

1. Any of various trees of the genus Betula, native to countries in the Northern Hemisphere.
2. A hard wood taken from the birch tree, typically used to make furniture.
3. A stick, rod or bundle of twigs made from birch wood, used for punishment.
4. A birch-bark canoe.

Synonyms

• (stick, rod or bundle of twigs): makepeace, switch

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

birch (third-person singular simple present birches, present participle birching, simple past and past participle birched)

1. to punish with a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood.
2. to punish as though one were using a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood.

Derived terms

• bircher

Translations

Middle English

Noun

birch

1. Alternative form of birche

English

Etymology 1

Compare withy.

Noun

widdy (plural widdies)

1. (Scotland) A rope or halter made of flexible twigs, or withes, as of birch.

Etymology 2

Noun

widdy (plural widdies)

1. Pronunciation spelling of widow.
   • 1877 — Gilbert & Sullivan, The Sorcerer

     I'm no saucy minx and giddy—
     Hussies such as them abound—
     But a clean and tidy widdy
     Well be-known for miles around.