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burley1

[bur-lee]
noun, plural bur·leys. (often initial capital letter)
  1. an American tobacco with thin leaves and light color, grown especially in Kentucky and nearby regions, used mostly in cigarettes.
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Origin of burley1

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; apparently from proper name

burley2

[bur-lee]
noun, plural bur·leys. Informal.
  1. a burlesque show.
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Origin of burley2

cf. burlecue, burleycue

Burley

[bur-lee]
noun
  1. a male given name.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for burley

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • You will be glad to hear, Mr. Burley, that his lordship—ahem!

    The Cryptogram

    William Murray Graydon

  • And what good can the trunk do Mr. Burley unless he can open it?

    The Cryptogram

    William Murray Graydon

  • The search was growing doubtful, and I felt sorry for Mr. Burley.

    The Cryptogram

    William Murray Graydon

  • Burley, he'll never fergive me s'long 's I live ef I get et up.

    The Man of the Desert

    Grace Livingston Hill

  • Such stamping and hallooing, and such hurrahs for "Burley John."

    My Novel, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for burley

burley1

noun, verb
  1. a variant spelling of berley
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burley2

noun
  1. a light thin-leaved tobacco, grown esp in Kentucky
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Word Origin

C19: probably from the name Burley
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012