burke
[ burk ]
/ bɜrk /
verb (used with object), burked, burk·ing.
to murder, as by suffocation, so as to leave no or few marks of violence.
to suppress or get rid of by some indirect maneuver.
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anchorite
Origin of burke
after W. Burke, hanged in 1829 in Edinburgh for murders of this kind
OTHER WORDS FROM burke
burk·er, burk·ite [bur-kahyt] /ˈbɜr kaɪt/, nounWords nearby burke
burin, burj dubai, burk, burka, burkburnett, burke, burke, edmund, burkina faso, burkinabé, burkini, burkitt
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for burking
British Dictionary definitions for burking (1 of 2)
burke
/ (bɜːk) /
verb (tr)
to murder in such a way as to leave no marks on the body, usually by suffocation
to get rid of, silence, or suppress
Word Origin for burke
C19: named after William Burke, executed in Edinburgh for a murder of this type
British Dictionary definitions for burking (2 of 2)
Burke
/ (bɜːk) /
noun
Edmund . 1729–97, British Whig statesman, conservative political theorist, and orator, born in Ireland: defended parliamentary government and campaigned for a more liberal treatment of the American colonies; denounced the French Revolution
Robert O'Hara . 1820–61, Irish explorer, who led the first expedition (1860–61) across Australia from south to north. He was accompanied by W. J. Wills, George Grey, and John King; King alone survived the return journey
William . 1792–1829, Irish murderer and body snatcher; associate of William Hare
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