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 ]
