Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Sense: 1,4
Date: 1600-1700
Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language
Sense: 2-3
Date: 1700-1800
Origin: Probably from the sound.

burr

 noun
     
Related topics: Plants
burr [countable]
1 also burHBP the seed container of some plants, covered with sharp points that make it stick to things
2 British English a way of pronouncing English with a strong 'r' sound
3 a fairly quiet regular sound like something turning quickly [= whirr]:
the burr of a motor
4 a rough spot on a piece of metal
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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