Birching definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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They had just been convicted afresh of smoking, which is bad for little boys who use plug-tobacco, and Lew's contention was that Jakin had 'stunk so' orrid bad from keepin 'the pipe in pocket,' that he and he alone was responsible for the birching they were both tingling under.

—Soldier Stories

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Examples (47)

I suppose there might be clergy who think that birching petty criminals and re-patriating ethnic minorities is consistent with the gospel, but it's more effective to laugh them out of holy orders than to ban them from what is still a legitimate UK political party. — Telegraph Blogs
In 1961 she went against the Conservative Party's official position by voting for the restoration of birching. — Pravda.Ru
Yeah Ace but only after a good birching and hanging eh? — Manchester Evening News - RSS Feed
It involved a "fives batting," that is, a "birching" carried out with a hardwood fives bat, after chapel in the presence of the house.
At the upper end of the room, which, by the way, is now used only for prayers, concerts, etc., is the birching-table, black and worn with age and use. — Westminster The Fascination of London