Defn: The red-breasted house sparrow of California (Carpodacus frontalis); — called also crimson-fronted bullfinch. [Written also burrion.]
BURKE
Burke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burkeder, p. pr. & vb.n. Burkinger.] Etym:
[From one Burke of Edinburgh, who committed the crime in 1829.]
1. To murder by suffocation, or so as to produce few marks of violence, for the purpose of obtaining a body to be sold for dissection.
2. To dispose of quietly or indirectly; to suppress; to smother; to shelve; as, to burke a parliamentary question. The court could not burke an inquiry, supported by such a mass of a affidavits. C. Reade.
BURKISM
Burk"ism, n.
Defn: The practice of killing persons for the purpose of selling their bodies for dissection.
BURL
Burl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Burling.] Etym:
[OE. burle stuffing, or a knot in cloth; cf. F. bourlet, bourrelet,
OF. bourel, a wreath or a roll of cloth, linen, or leather, stuffed
with flocks, etc., dim. of bourre. *92. See Bur.]
Defn: To dress or finish up (cloth); to pick knots, burs, loose threads, etc., from, as in finishing cloth. Burling iron, a peculiar kind of nippers or tweezers used in burling woolen cloth.
BURL
Burl, n.
1. A knot or lump in thread or cloth.