Part 871

3. The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden.

4. (Mining) The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.

5. (Metal.) The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace. Raymond.

6. A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.

7. A birth. [Obs. & R.] Shak.

Beast of burden, an animal employed in carrying burdens. -- Burden of proof [L. onus probandi] (Law), the duty of proving a particular position in a court of law, a failure in the performance of which duty calls for judgment against the party on whom the duty is imposed.

Syn. -- Burden, Load. A burden is, in the literal sense, a weight to be borne; a load is something laid upon us to be carried. Hence, when used figuratively, there is usually a difference between the two words. Our burdens may be of such a nature that we feel bound to bear them cheerfully or without complaint. They may arise from the nature of our situation; they may be allotments of Providence; they may be the consequences of our errors. What is upon us, as a load, we commonly carry with greater reluctance or sense of oppression. Men often find the charge of their own families to be a burden; but if to this be added a load of care for others, the pressure is usually serve and irksome.

Bur"den, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burdened (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Burdening (&?;).] 1. To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load.

I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened. 2 Cor. viii. 13.

2. To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; as, to burden a nation with taxes.

My burdened heart would break. Shak.

3. To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable). [R.]

It is absurd to burden this act on Cromwell. Coleridge.

Syn. -- To load; encumber; overload; oppress.

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Bur"den (bûr"d'n), n. [OE. burdoun the bass in music, F. bourdon; cf. LL. burdo drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Bourdon.] 1. The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic; as, the burden of a prayer.

I would sing my song without a burden. Shak.

2. The drone of a bagpipe. Ruddiman.

Bur"den, n. [See Burdon.] A club. [Obs.] Spenser.

Bur"den*er (&?;), n. One who loads; an oppressor.

Bur"den*ous (&?;), a. Burdensome. [Obs.] "Burdenous taxations." Shak.

Bur"den*some (&?;), a. Grievous to be borne; causing uneasiness or fatigue; oppressive.

The debt immense of endless gratitude So burdensome. Milton.

Syn. -- Heavy; weighty; cumbersome; onerous; grievous; oppressive; troublesome.

-- Bur"den*some*ly, adv. -- Bur"den*some*ness, n.

Bur"dock (&?;), n. [Bur + dock the plant.] (Bot.) A genus of coarse biennial herbs (Lappa), bearing small burs which adhere tenaciously to clothes, or to the fur or wool of animals.

The common burdock is the Lappa officinalis.

Bur"don (&?;), n. [See Bourdon.] A pilgrim's staff. [Written also burden.] Rom. of R.