Birks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Footwear made primarily of cork and rubber, known for comfort and arch support
2. Stylish sandals or clogs often used in casual settings, typically featuring a contoured footbed
3. Popular among health professionals, these shoes are favored for their ergonomic design and ease of wear

Etymology: Birks are the cork-soled sandals that Birkenstock made famous, and the name is a shortened form of the company's own name. The brand is German, and "Birkenstock" joins the German "Birken", the plural of "Birke", meaning birch, with "Stock", meaning stick or tree trunk. The name therefore carries the same tree as the English word "birch". The tree name itself comes down from Northern Middle English, where "birk", "birke" and "byrke" all meant birch, and southern Middle English used "birche", the form that became standard. Scots kept the northern version, so "birk" still means birch tree in Scotland, which is why the shortened form sounds Scottish to many ears even though the sandals are German in origin.

Synonyms: birches, trees