birches

1. hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywoodSynonyms: birch

2. any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a thin peeling barkSynonyms: birch, birch tree

3. a switch consisting of a twig or a bundle of twigs from a birch tree; used to hit people as punishmentExamples: "my father never spared the birch"Synonyms: birch, birch rod