sweet birch

noun

1. a North American tree, Betula lenta, having smooth, blackish bark and twigs that are a source of methyl salicylate.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweet birch¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

The first, to my surprise, was in the topmost branches of a tall sweet-birch, perhaps forty feet above the ground.

From Project Gutenberg

The black or sweet birch (Betula lenta) has a bark similar to the gray birch, except that its color is dark gray.

From Project Gutenberg

The wood of sweet birch had few uses in early times, except fuel.

From Project Gutenberg

The sweet birch is tapped like sugar maple, but not for the same purpose or to the same extent—only an occasional tree.

From Project Gutenberg

Difficulties are encountered in assigning sweet birch its individual place in the industrial world.

From Project Gutenberg