*burr*

{ } n. [ OE. burre burdock; cf. Dan. borre, OSw. borra, burdock, thistle; perh. akin to E. bristle (burr- for burz-), or perh. to F. bourre hair, wool, stuff; also, according to Cotgrave, “the downe, or hairie coat, wherewith divers herbes, fruits, and flowers, are covered, ” fr. L. burrae trifles, LL. reburrus rough. ] 1. (Bot.) 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; a seed vessel having hooks or prickles. Also, any weed which bears burs. [ 1913 Webster ]

Amongst rude burs and thistles. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bur and brake and brier. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The thin ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal. See Burr, n., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A ring of iron on a lance or spear. See Burr, n., 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The lobe of the ear. See Burr, n., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The sweetbread. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A clinker; a partially vitrified brick. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Mech.) (a) A small circular saw. (b) A triangular chisel. (c) A drill with a serrated head larger than the shank; -- especially a small drill bit used by dentists. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. [ Cf. Gael. borr, borra, a knob, bunch. ] (Zool.) The round knob of an antler next to a deer's head. [ Commonly written burr. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Bur oak (Bot.), 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 (Bot.), a plant of the genus Sparganium, having long ribbonlike leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Bur. ] (Bot.) 1. A prickly seed vessel. See Bur, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The thin edge or ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal, as in turning, engraving, pressing, etc.; also, the rough neck left on a bullet in casting. [ 1913 Webster ]

The graver, in plowing furrows in the surface of the copper, raises corresponding ridges or burrs. Tomlinson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A thin flat piece of metal, formed from a sheet by punching; a small washer put on the end of a rivet before it is swaged down. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A broad iron ring on a tilting lance just below the gripe, to prevent the hand from slipping. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The lobe or lap of the ear. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. [ Probably of imitative origin. ] A guttural pronounciation of the letter r, produced by trilling the extremity of the soft palate against the back part of the tongue; rotacism; -- often called the Newcastle burr, Northumberland burr, or Tweedside burr. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. The knot at the bottom of an antler. See Bur, n., 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Burred p. pr. & vb. n. Burring. ] To speak with burr; to make a hoarse or guttural murmur. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Borrel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. burel reddish (cf. Borel, n.), or F. beurré butter pear, fr. beurre butter. Cf. Butter. ] A sort of pear, called also the red butter pear, from its smooth, delicious, soft pulp. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ From its reddish color. See 1st Burrel. ] (Zool.) The botfly or gadfly of cattle (Hypoderma bovis). See Gadfly. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Either from annoying the enemy like a burrel fly, or, less probably, fr. F. bourreler to sting, torture. ] (Gun.) A mixture of shot, nails, stones, pieces of old iron, etc., fired from a cannon at short range, in an emergency. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any of several fishes having rigid flattened spines. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. (Zool.) The wild Himalayan, or blue, sheep (Ovis burrhel). [ 1913 Webster ]

A machine for cleansing wool of burs, seeds, and other substances. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mexico) a flour tortilla folded around a filling. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

See Buhrstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp., an ass. ] (Zool.) A donkey. [ Southern U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perh. from AS. burg, burh, hill + -ock. ] A small weir or dam in a river to direct the stream to gaps where fish traps are placed. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See 1st Borough. ] 1. An incorporated town. See 1st Borough. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A shelter; esp. a hole in the ground made by certain animals, as rabbits, for shelter and habitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mining) A heap or heaps of rubbish or refuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A mound. See 3d Barrow, and Camp, n., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Burrowed p. pr. & vb. n. Burrowing. ] 1. To excavate a hole to lodge in, as in the earth; to lodge in a hole excavated in the earth, as conies or rabbits. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lodge, or take refuge, in any deep or concealed place; to hide. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sir, this vermin of court reporters, when they are forced into day upon one point, are sure to burrow in another. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Burrowing owl (Zool.), a small owl of the western part of North America (Speotyto cunicularia), which lives in holes, often in company with the prairie dog. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, burrows; an animal that makes a hole under ground and lives in it. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Buhrstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding in burs, or containing burs; resembling burs; as, burry wool. [ 1913 Webster ]