burr

Meaning

1. A sharp, pointy object, such as a sliver or splinter.
2. Alternative form of bur (“rough, prickly husk around the seeds or fruit of some plants”).
3. A small piece of material left on an edge after a cutting operation.
4. A thin flat piece of metal, formed from a sheet by punching; a small washer put on the end of a rivet before it is swaged down.
5. A broad iron ring on a tilting lance just below the grip, to prevent the hand from slipping.
6. The ear lobe.
7. A burr knot or burl.
8. The knot at the bottom of an antler.
9. A revolving disk or cone with abrasive surfaces used to grind hard products in a grinder or mill.

bur

rotary file

knife grinder

sentus

Arctium

clotbur

cockleburr

round file

warble tone

engraving tool

upset metal

free edge

rough edge

blade grinder

sickle grinder

staple bolt

knaur

skin needling

flash burr

fringe selvedge

rough selvedge

knife stone

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɝ/

From Middle English burre, perhaps related to Old English byrst (“bristle”). Cognate with Danish burre, borre (“burdock, burr”), Swedish borre (“sea-urchin”).