burton

¹

[bur-tn]

noun

Nautical.

1. any of various small tackles for use on shipboard.

2. Spanish burton.

burton

²

[bur-tn]

Burton

³

[bur-tn]

noun

1. Harold Hitz 1888–1964, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1945–58.

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

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

4. Robert Democritus Junior, 1577–1640, English clergyman and author.

5. a town in central Michigan.

6. a male given name.

Burton

¹

/ ˈbɜːtən /

noun

1. 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)

2. 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)

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

4. 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)

burton

²

/ ˈbɜːtən /

noun

1. nautical a kind of light hoisting tackle

2. slang

   1. to be broken, useless, or lost

   2. to die

Word History and Origins

Origin of burton¹

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

Origin of burton²

First recorded in 1940–45; origin unclear

Word History and Origins

Origin of burton¹

C15: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

The original “Reading Rainbow,” hosted by LeVar Burton, first launched on PBS in 1983.

From Los Angeles Times

For over two decades, Burton taught literacy skills and helped instill a love for reading in children across the country.

From Los Angeles Times

The original “Reading Rainbow,” with beloved host Burton, launched in 1983 and was a PBS staple for more than 23 years.

From Los Angeles Times

“It portrays reading in a fun light,” Burton said of the show in 1993.

From Los Angeles Times

“I was raised on Reading Rainbow,” Threets wrote in a post on Threads, “LeVar Burton is my hero. I am a reader, I am a librarian because LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow so powerfully made us believe we belong in books, we belong everywhere.”

From Los Angeles Times