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.

Burbolt
(Bur"bolt`) n. A birdbolt. [Obs.] Ford.

Burbot
(Bur"bot) n. [F. barbote, fr. barbe beard. See 1st Barb.] (Zoöl.) 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 (L. maculosa) is found in New England, the Great Lakes, and farther north.

Burdelais
(Bur`de*lais") n. [F. bourdelais, prob. fr. bordelais. See Bordelais.] A sort of grape. Jonson.

Burden
(Bur"den) n. [Written also burthen.] [OE. burden, burthen, birthen, birden, AS. byrðen; akin to Icel. byrði, Dan. byrde, Sw. börda, G. bürde, OHG. burdi, Goth. baúrþei, fr. the root of E. bear, AS. beran, Goth. bairan. &radic92. 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. [Obs. & R.] Shak.

Beast of burden, an animal employed in carrying burdens.Burden of proof[L. 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), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burdened ; p. pr. & vb. n. Burdening ]

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


  By PanEris using Melati.

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