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• burton
  burton

  noun

  any of various small tackles for use on shipboard.
• Burton
  Burton

  noun

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

burton

¹ American  

[bur-tn] / ˈbɜr tn /

noun

Nautical.

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

2. Spanish burton.

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burton ² American  

[bur-tn] / ˈbɜr tn /

verb phrase

1. go for a burton

   1. to be lost, missing, or destroyed.

   2. to die.

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Burton ³ American  

[bur-tn] / ˈbɜr 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.

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Burton ¹ British  

/ 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)

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burton ² British  

/ ˈbɜːtən /

noun

1. nautical a kind of light hoisting tackle

2. slang

   1. to be broken, useless, or lost

   2. to die

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Etymology

Origin of burton¹

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

Origin of burton²

First recorded in 1940–45; origin unclear

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

burton Burton

Dress #royalwedding: sarah burton at alexander mqueen |Why Prince William Is Wearing an Irish Guard Uniform Prince William waves as he arrives with his brother Prince Harry at the West Door of Westminster Abbey.

From New York Times ● Apr. 30, 2011

A whip, a burton, or greater purchase, as yard-arm tackles, &c.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

No, my man; but lower a whip at once for the sail burton, and you can lower the tops’l tye as well.

From Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant by Greene, John B.

“Oh, yes, sir,” I replied, touching my cap again, “I know what a sail burton is, sir.”

From Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant by Greene, John B.

Run forruds and tell the bosun I want the sail burton brought aft, and an up and down tackle fitted to the mainyard, if you are able to recollect all that?”

From Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant by Greene, John B.

Burton lived in Cambridgeshire and previously been a parish and district councillor, representing The Stukeleys ward on Huntingdonshire District Council.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Walking during meetings is an idea that UCLA’s Burton Cowgill is a fan of.

From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026

Sarah Conboy, leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, said she "was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Shaun Burton".

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

Developers are miffed by the delay, Burton said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Burton regained his composure and leaned on the bar.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool