burton

[ bur-tn ]

/ ˈbɜr tn /

noun Nautical.

any of various small tackles for use on shipboard.

Words nearby burton

bursting point, bursting strength, burstone, burt, burthen, burton, burton-upon-trent, buru, burundi, burundian, burushaski

Origin of burton

1695–1705; probably by metathesis from Breton (takles), Brytton (takles) (late 15th cent.); see Breton, Briton

Definition for burton (2 of 3)

burton²

[ bur-tn ]

/ ˈbɜr tn /

Verb Phrases

go for a burton, British Slang.

to be lost, missing, or destroyed.
to die.

Origin of burton

First recorded in 1940–45; orig. disputed

Definition for burton (3 of 3)

Burton

[ bur-tn ]

/ ˈbɜr tn /

noun

Harold Hitz

[hits] /hɪts/, 1888–1964, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1945–58.

Sir RichardRichard Jenkins, 1925–84, English actor, born in Wales.

Sir Richard Francis,1821–90, English explorer, Orientalist, and writer.

RobertDemocritus Junior, 1577–1640, English clergyman and author.

a town in central Michigan.

a male given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for burton

The Daily Beast sat down with Burton to discuss Big Eyes and his beautiful, dark, twisted career.
Tim Burton Talks ‘Big Eyes,’ His Taste For the Macabre, and the ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel|Marlow Stern|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Whatever the reason, Burton was committed enough to leave tiny Bunker Hill to seek out her beau.
Mrs. Manson, Hometown Antihero|Justin Glawe|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Down a one-lane gravel road sits the house Burton left seven years ago.
Mrs. Manson, Hometown Antihero|Justin Glawe|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is “the most famous guy in the world,” Burton, who goes by Star, told Rolling Stone.
Mrs. Manson, Hometown Antihero|Justin Glawe|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They abandoned the design by the highly regarded architects Ahrends, Burton & Koralek.
Imagining Prince Charles as King Makes All of Britain Wish They Could Leave Like Scotland|Clive Irving|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I think I have heard Captain Burton say that he had irregular teeth, which made his smile unpleasant.
The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 13, No. 78, April, 1864|Various
"Mr. Burton can tell you who I am," he added in some impatience with her renewed scrutiny of his card.
The Coast of Bohemia|William Dean Howells
The squire is a rich man—the richest man in Burton—but he wants to take from me the little property that I have.
Cast Upon the Breakers|Horatio Alger
"Only this—that when their own devices fail, they're in a hurry for the consolations of religion," said Mr. Burton.
Romance of California Life|John Habberton
The 9th, they descended into the valley of Mukondokno, and there struck the road traversed by Speke and Burton in 1817.
Stanley's Adventures in the Wilds of Africa|Joel Tyler Headley and William Fletcher Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for burton (1 of 2)

burton

/ (ˈbɜːtən) /

noun

nautical a kind of light hoisting tackle

go for a burton British slang

to be broken, useless, or lost
to die

Word Origin for burton

C15: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for burton (2 of 2)

Burton

/ (ˈbɜːtən) /

noun

Sir Richard Francis . 1821–90, English explorer, Orientalist, and writer who discovered Lake Tanganyika with John Speke (1858); produced the first unabridged translation of The Thousand Nights and a Night (1885–88)

Richard, real name Richard Jenkins . 1925–84, Welsh stage and film actor: films include Becket (1964), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), and Equus (1977)

Robert, pen name Democritus Junior . 1577–1640, English clergyman, scholar, and writer, noted for his Anatomy of Melancholy (1621)

Tim. born 1958, US film director whose work includes Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Ed Wood (1994), Corpse Bride (2005), and Alice in Wonderland (2010)

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