birch wine

Wine \Wine\, n. [OE. win, AS. win, fr. L. vinum (cf. Icel.
   v[imac]n; all from the Latin); akin to Gr. o'i^nos, ?, and E.
   withy. Cf. {Vine}, {Vineyard}, {Vinous}, {Withy}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. The expressed juice of grapes, esp. when fermented; a
      beverage or liquor prepared from grapes by squeezing out
      their juice, and (usually) allowing it to ferment. "Red
      wine of Gascoigne." --Piers Plowman.
      [1913 Webster]

            Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and
            whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. --Prov.
                                                  xx. 1.
      [1913 Webster]

            Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape
            Crushed the sweet poison of misused wine. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Wine is essentially a dilute solution of ethyl alcohol,
         containing also certain small quantities of ethers and
         ethereal salts which give character and bouquet.
         According to their color, strength, taste, etc., wines
         are called {red}, {white}, {spirituous}, {dry},
         {light}, {still}, etc.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. A liquor or beverage prepared from the juice of any fruit
      or plant by a process similar to that for grape wine; as,
      currant wine; gooseberry wine; palm wine.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The effect of drinking wine in excess; intoxication.
      [1913 Webster]

            Noah awoke from his wine.             --Gen. ix. 24.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Birch wine}, {Cape wine}, etc. See under {Birch}, {Cape},
      etc.

   {Spirit of wine}. See under {Spirit}.

   {To have drunk wine of ape} or {To have drunk wine ape}, to
      be so drunk as to be foolish. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

   {Wine acid}. (Chem.) See {Tartaric acid}, under {Tartaric}.
      [Colloq.]

   {Wine apple} (Bot.), a large red apple, with firm flesh and a
      rich, vinous flavor.

   {Wine fly} (Zool.), small two-winged fly of the genus
      {Piophila}, whose larva lives in wine, cider, and other
      fermented liquors.

   {Wine grower}, one who cultivates a vineyard and makes wine.
      

   {Wine measure}, the measure by which wines and other spirits
      are sold, smaller than beer measure.

   {Wine merchant}, a merchant who deals in wines.

   {Wine of opium} (Pharm.), a solution of opium in aromatized
      sherry wine, having the same strength as ordinary
      laudanum; -- also {Sydenham's laudanum}.

   {Wine press}, a machine or apparatus in which grapes are
      pressed to extract their juice.

   {Wine skin}, a bottle or bag of skin, used, in various
      countries, for carrying wine.

   {Wine stone}, a kind of crust deposited in wine casks. See
      1st {Tartar}, 1.

   {Wine vault}.
      (a) A vault where wine is stored.
      (b) A place where wine is served at the bar, or at tables;
          a dramshop. --Dickens.

   {Wine vinegar}, vinegar made from wine.

   {Wine whey}, whey made from milk coagulated by the use of
      wine.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Birch \Birch\ (b[~e]rch), n.; pl. {Birches} (-[e^]z). [OE.
   birche, birk, AS. birce, beorc; akin to Icel. bj["o]rk, Sw.
   bj["o]rk, Dan. birk, D. berk, OHG. piricha, MHG. birche,
   birke, G. birke, Russ. bereza, Pol. brzoza, Serv. breza, Skr.
   bh[=u]rja. [root]254. Cf. 1st {Birk}.]
   1. A tree of several species, constituting the genus
      {Betula}; as, the white or common birch ({Betula alba})
      (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch
      ({Betula glandulosa}); the paper or canoe birch ({Betula
      papyracea}); the yellow birch ({Betula lutea}); the black
      or cherry birch ({Betula lenta}).
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The wood or timber of the birch.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: The twigs of the common European birch (B. alba), being
         tough and slender, were formerly much used for rods in
         schools. They were also made into brooms.
         [1913 Webster]

               The threatening twigs of birch.    --Shak.
         [1913 Webster]

   4. A birch-bark canoe.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Birch of Jamaica}, a species ({Bursera gummifera}) of
      turpentine tree.

   {Birch partridge}. (Zool.) See {Ruffed grouse}.

   {Birch wine}, wine made of the spring sap of the birch.

   {Oil of birch}.
      (a) An oil obtained from the bark of the common European
          birch ({Betula alba}), and used in the preparation of
          genuine (and sometimes of the imitation) Russia
          leather, to which it gives its peculiar odor.
      (b) An oil prepared from the black birch ({Betula lenta}),
          said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for
          which it is largely sold.
          [1913 Webster]