ETYM Old Eng. berken, AS. beorcan; akin to Icel. berkja, and prob. to Eng. break.
1. To cover with bark.
2. To make barking sounds.
3. To remove the bark of a tree; SYN. skin.
4. To speak in an unfriendly tone.
5. To tan (a skin) with bark tannins.

ETYM Cf. Old Eng. baewen to bathe, and German bähen to foment.
(Homonym: bey).
1. To bark with prolonged noises, of dogs; SYN. quest.
2. To utter in deep prolonged tones.