Bur, Burr Bur, Burr noun [ Middle English burre burdock; confer Danish borre , OSw. borra , burdock, thistle; perhaps akin to English bristle ( burr- for burz- ), or perhaps to French bourre hair, wool, stuff; also, according to Cotgrave, "the downe, or hairie coat, wherewith divers herbes, fruits, and flowers, are covered," from Latin burrae trifles, Late Latin reburrus rough.] 1. (Botany) Any rough or prickly envelope of the seeds of plants, whether a pericarp, a persistent calyx, or an involucre, as of the chestnut and burdock. Also, any weed which bears burs.

Amongst rude burs and thistles.
Milton.

Bur and brake and brier.
Tennyson.

2. The thin ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal. See Burr , noun , 2.

3. A ring of iron on a lance or spear. See Burr , noun , 4.

4. The lobe of the ear. See Burr , noun , 5.

5. The sweetbread.

6. A clinker; a partially vitrified brick.

7. (Mech.) (a) A small circular saw. (b) A triangular chisel. (c) A drill with a serrated head larger than the shank; -- used by dentists.

8. [ Confer Gael. borr , borra , a knob, bunch.] (Zoology) The round knob of an antler next to a deer's head. [ Commonly written burr .]

Bur oak (Botany) , a useful and ornamental species of oak ( Quercus macrocarpa ) with ovoid acorns inclosed in deep cups imbricated with pointed scales. It grows in the Middle and Western United States, and its wood is tough, close-grained, and durable. -- Bur reed (Botany) , a plant of the genus Sparganium , having long ribbonlike leaves.

Burbolt Bur"bolt` noun A birdbolt. [ Obsolete] Ford.

Burbot Bur"bot noun [ French barbote , from barbe beard. See 1st Barb .] (Zoology) A fresh- water fish of the genus Lota , having on the nose two very small barbels, and a larger one on the chin. [ Written also burbolt .]

» The fish is also called an eelpout or ling , and is allied to the codfish. The Lota vulgaris is a common European species. An American species ( Latin maculosa ) is found in New England, the Great Lakes, and farther north.

Burdelais Bur`de·lais" noun [ French bourdelais , probably from bordelais . See Bordelais .] A sort of grape. Jonson.

Burden Bur"den (bû"d'n) noun [ Written also burthen .] [ Middle English burden , burthen , birthen , birden , Anglo-Saxon byrðen ; akin to Icelandic byrði , Danish byrde , Swedish börda , German bürde , Old High German burdi , Goth. baúrþei , from the root of English bear , Anglo-Saxon beran , Goth. bairan . √92. See 1st Bear .] 1. That which is borne or carried; a load.

Plants with goodly burden bowing.
Shak.

2. That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.

Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone,
To all my friends a burden grown.
Swift.

3. The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden .

4. (Mining) The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.

5. (Metal.) The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace. Raymond.

6. A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.

7. A birth. [ Obsolete & R.] Shak.

Beast of burden , an animal employed in carrying burdens. -- Burden of proof [ Latin onus probandi ] (Law) , the duty of proving a particular position in a court of law, a failure in the performance of which duty calls for judgment against the party on whom the duty is imposed.

Syn. -- Burden , Load . A burden is, in the literal sense, a weight to be borne; a load is something laid upon us to be carried. Hence, when used figuratively, there is usually a difference between the two words. Our burdens may be of such a nature that we feel bound to bear them cheerfully or without complaint. They may arise from the nature of our situation; they may be allotments of Providence; they may be the consequences of our errors. What is upon us, as a load , we commonly carry with greater reluctance or sense of oppression. Men often find the charge of their own families to be a burden ; but if to this be added a load of care for others, the pressure is usually serve and irksome.

Burden Bur"den transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Burdened ; present participle & verbal noun Burdening ] 1. To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load.

I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened .
2 Cor. viii. 13.

2. To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; as, to burden a nation with taxes.

My burdened heart would break.
Shak.

3. To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable). [ R.]

It is absurd to burden this act on Cromwell.
Coleridge.

Syn. -- To load; encumber; overload; oppress.

Burden Bur"den (bûr"d'n) noun [ Middle English burdoun the bass in music, French bourdon ; confer Late Latin burdo drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Confer Bourdon .] 1. The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic; as, the burden of a prayer.

I would sing my song without a burden .
Shak.

2. The drone of a bagpipe. Ruddiman.

Burden Bur"den noun [ See Burdon .] A club. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Burdener Bur"den·er noun One who loads; an oppressor.

Burdenous Bur"den·ous adjective Burdensome. [ Obsolete] " Burdenous taxations." Shak.

Burdensome Bur"den·some adjective Grievous to be borne; causing uneasiness or fatigue; oppressive.

The debt immense of endless gratitude
So burdensome .
Milton.

Syn. -- Heavy; weighty; cumbersome; onerous; grievous; oppressive; troublesome.

-- Bur"den*some*ly , adverb -- Bur"den*some*ness , noun

Burdock Bur"dock noun [ Bur + dock the plant.] (Botany) A genus of coarse biennial herbs ( Lappa ), bearing small burs which adhere tenaciously to clothes, or to the fur or wool of animals.

» The common burdock is the Lappa officinalis .

Burdon Bur"don noun [ See Bourdon .] A pilgrim's staff. [ Written also burden .] Rom. of R.

Bureau Bu"reau noun ; plural English Bureaus French Bureaux [ French bureau a writing table, desk, office, Old French , drugget, with which a writing table was often covered, equiv. to French bure , and from Old French buire dark brown, the stuff being named from its color, from Latin burrus red, from Greek ... flame-colored, probably from ... fire. See Fire , noun , and confer Borel , noun ] 1. Originally, a desk or writing table with drawers for papers. Swift.

2. The place where such a bureau is used; an office where business requiring writing is transacted.

3. Hence: A department of public business requiring a force of clerks; the body of officials in a department who labor under the direction of a chief.

» On the continent of Europe, the highest departments, in most countries, have the name of bureaux ; as, the Bureau of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In England and America, the term is confined to inferior and subordinate departments; as, the "Pension Bureau ," a subdepartment of the Department of the Interior. [ Obsolete] In Spanish, bureo denotes a court of justice for the trial of persons belonging to the king's household.

4. A chest of drawers for clothes, especially when made as an ornamental piece of furniture. [ U.S.]

Bureau system . See Bureaucracy . -- Bureau Veritas , an institution, in the interest of maritime underwriters, for the survey and rating of vessels all over the world. It was founded in Belgium in 1828, removed to Paris in 1830, and reëstablished in Brussels in 1870.

Bureaucracy Bu·reau"cra·cy noun [ Bureau + Greek ... to be strong, to govern, ... strength: confer French bureaucratie .] 1. A system of carrying on the business of government by means of departments or bureaus, each under the control of a chief, in contradiction to a system in which the officers of government have an associated authority and responsibility; also, government conducted on this system.

2. Government officials, collectively.

Bureaucrat Bu·reau"crat noun An official of a bureau; esp. an official confirmed in a narrow and arbitrary routine. C. Kingsley.

Bureaucratic, Bureaucratical Bu`reau·crat"ic, Bu`reau·crat"ic·al adjective [ Confer French bureaucratique .] Of, relating to, or resembling, a bureaucracy.

Bureaucratist Bu·reau"cra·tist noun An advocate for , or supporter of, bureaucracy.

Burel Bur"el noun & adjective Same as Borrel .

Burette Bu·rette" noun [ French, can, cruet, dim. of buire flagon.] (Chemistry) An apparatus for delivering measured quantities of liquid or for measuring the quantity of liquid or gas received or discharged. It consists essentially of a graduated glass tube, usually furnished with a small aperture and stopcock.

Burg Burg noun [ Anglo-Saxon burh , burg , confer Late Latin burgus . See 1st Borough .] 1. A fortified town. [ Obsolete]

2. A borough. [ Eng.] See 1st Borough .

Burgage Burg"age noun [ From Burg : confer French bourgage , Late Latin burgagium .] (Eng. Law) A tenure by which houses or lands are held of the king or other lord of a borough or city; at a certain yearly rent, or by services relating to trade or handicraft. Burrill.

Burgall Bur"gall noun (Zoology) A small marine fish; -- also called cunner .

Burgamot Bur"ga·mot noun See Bergamot .

Burganet Bur"ga·net noun See Burgonet .

Burgee Bur"gee noun 1. A kind of small coat.

2. (Nautical) A swallow-tailed flag; a distinguishing pennant, used by cutters, yachts, and merchant vessels.

Burgeois Bur·geois" (bûr*jois") noun (Print.) See 1st Bourgeois .

Burgeois Bur·geois" (bor*zhwä") noun A burgess; a citizen. See 2d Bourgeois . [ R.] Addison.

Burgeon Bur"geon intransitive verb To bud. See Bourgeon .

Burgess Bur"gess noun [ Middle English burgeis , Old French burgeis , from burc fortified town, town, French bourg village, from Late Latin burgus fort, city; from the German; confer Middle High German burc , German burg . See 1st Borough , and confer 2d Bourgeois .] 1. An inhabitant of a borough or walled town, or one who possesses a tenement therein; a citizen or freeman of a borough. Blackstone.

» "A burgess of a borough corresponds with a citizen of a city." Burrill.

2. One who represents a borough in Parliament.

3. A magistrate of a borough.

4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for municipal officers.

» Before the Revolution, the representatives in the popular branch of the legislature of Virginia were called burgesses ; they are now called delegates .

Burgess oath . See Burgher , 2.

Burgess-ship Bur"gess-ship noun The state of privilege of a burgess. South.

Burggrave Burg"grave noun [ German burggraf ; burg fortress + graf count: confer Dutch burggraaf , French burgrave . See Margrave .] (Germany) Originally, one appointed to the command of a burg (fortress or castle); but the title afterward became hereditary, with a domain attached.

Burgh Burgh noun [ Middle English See Burg .] A borough or incorporated town, especially, one in Scotland. See Borough .

Burghal Burgh"al adjective Belonging to a burgh.

Burghbote Burgh"bote` noun [ Burgh + bote .] (Old Law) A contribution toward the building or repairing of castles or walls for the defense of a city or town.

Burghbrech Burgh"brech` noun [ Burgh + French brèche , equiv. to English breach .] (AS. Law) The offense of violating the pledge given by every inhabitant of a tithing to keep the peace; breach of the peace. Burrill.

Burgher Burgh"er noun [ From burgh ; akin to Dutch burger , German bürger , Danish borger , Swedish borgare . See Burgh .] 1. A freeman of a burgh or borough, entitled to enjoy the privileges of the place; any inhabitant of a borough.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) A member of that party, among the Scotch seceders, which asserted the lawfulness of the burgess oath (in which burgesses profess "the true religion professed within the realm"), the opposite party being called antiburghers .

» These parties arose among the Presbyterians of Scotland, in 1747, and in 1820 reunited under the name of the "United Associate Synod of the Secession Church."

Burghermaster Burgh"er·mas`ter noun See Burgomaster .

Burghership Burgh"er·ship noun The state or privileges of a burgher.

Burghmaster Burgh"mas`ter noun 1. A burgomaster.

2. (Mining) An officer who directs and lays out the meres or boundaries for the workmen; -- called also bailiff , and barmaster . [ Eng.]

Burghmote Burgh"mote` noun (AS. Law) [ Burgh + mote meeting.] A court or meeting of a burgh or borough; a borough court held three times yearly.

Burglar Bur"glar noun [ Middle English burg town, French bourg , from Late Latin burgus (of German origin) + Old French lere thief, from Latin latro . See Borough , and Larceny .] (Law) One guilty of the crime of burglary.

Burglar alarm , a device for giving alarm if a door or window is opened from without.

Burglarer Bur"glar·er noun A burglar. [ Obsolete]

Burglarious Bur·gla"ri·ous adjective Pertaining to burglary; constituting the crime of burglary.

To come down a chimney is held a burglarious entry.
Blackstone.

Burglariously Bur·gla"ri·ous·ly adverb With an intent to commit burglary; in the manner of a burglar. Blackstone.

Burglary Bur"gla·ry noun ; plural Burglaries [ Fr. Burglar ; confer Late Latin burglaria .] (Law) Breaking and entering the dwelling house of another, in the nighttime, with intent to commit a felony therein, whether the felonious purpose be accomplished or not. Wharton. Burrill.

» By statute law in some of the United States, burglary includes the breaking with felonious intent into a house by day as well as by night, and into other buildings than dwelling houses. Various degrees of the crime are established.

Burgomaster Bur"go·mas`ter noun [ Dutch burgemeester ; burg borough + meester master; akin to German burgemeister , bürgermeister . See 1st Borough , and Master .] 1. A chief magistrate of a municipal town in Holland, Flanders, and Germany, corresponding to mayor in England and the United States; a burghmaster.

2. (Zoology) An aquatic bird, the glaucous gull ( Larus glaucus ), common in arctic regions.

Burgonet Bur"go·net noun [ French bouruignotte , because the Burgundians, French Bouruignons , first used it.] A kind of helmet. [ Written also burganet .] Shak.

Burgoo Bur"goo noun [ Prov. English burgood yeast, perhaps from W. burym yeast + cawl cabbage, gruel.] A kind of oatmeal pudding, or thick gruel, used by seamen. [ Written also burgout .]

Burgrass Bur"grass` noun (Botany) Grass of the genus Cenchrus , growing in sand, and having burs for fruit.

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