Bureau. French for a writing-desk, from buro, a drugget, with which it was invariably covered.
Burgess Roll. See “[Roll Call].”
Burgundy. A wine produced in the French province of the same name.
Burke. To stop or gag--e.g. to burke a question. After an Irishman of this name, who silently and secretly took the lives of many peaceable citizens by holding a pitch plaster over their mouths, in order to sell their bodies to the doctors for dissection. He was hanged in 1849. His crimes were described as “Burking.”
Burleigh Street. From the residence of Lord Burleigh in Exeter Street, hard by.
Burlington Street (Old and New). After Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington and Cork, from whom Burlington House, refronted by him, also received its name.
Burmah. From the natives, who claim to be descendants of Brahma, the supreme deity of the Hindoos.
Burton Crescent. After the name of its builder.
Bury St Edmunds. A corruption of the Borough of St Edmund, where the Saxon king and martyr was crowned on Christmas Day, 856. Taken prisoner and killed by the Danes, he was laid to rest here. Over the site of his tomb Canute built a Benedictine monastery.
Bury Street. Properly Berry Street, after its builder.