burro
Americannoun
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a small donkey, especially one used as a pack animal in the southwestern U.S.
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any donkey.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of burro
1790–1800; < Spanish < Portuguese, back formation from burrico ass < Vulgar Latin *burriccus for Late Latin burrīcus pony
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Explanation
A burro is a small donkey often used in the American Southwest and Mexico as a pack animal. Wild burros are the descendants of domesticated donkeys that escaped or were released and subsequently established wild herds. Burro comes from the Spanish burrico, "donkey," and the Late Latin burricus, "small, shaggy horse." Burros have inhabited the American Southwest for hundreds of years, first working in mines as pack animals during the gold rush and later roaming free in herds throughout the Arizona desert. They can also be found in arid regions of California, Nevada, Utah, and Mexico. Burros are known for their intelligence, hardiness, and affectionate natures. They make a loud braying noise.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She continued along the dirt road, lined by cactus and brush, passed occasionally by motorbikes and battered Volkswagen Beetles, the water carried on Pancho’s sides sloshing as the burro trudged home.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2024
The bullet removed from that burro was fired from Arnet’s rifle, prosecutors said.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2024
For this reason, as well as lack of resources, proponents of a new burro roundup are pessimistic.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2023
Meléndez’s illustrations of a seven-pointed star and a burro piñata are among a select group of 31 stamp issues this year.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 31, 2023
“With patience and calm, even a burro can climb a palm,” Chucha reminds me.
From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
