Burning, verb, subs. (old).—A venereal disease. Shakspeare alludes to
it in King Lear, ‘No heretics burn’d, but wenches’ suitors.’
Burning Shame.—An obscene practice.—See Grose.
Burning the Parade, phr. (old).—Thus explained by Grose: ‘Warning more
men for a guard than were necessary, and excusing the supernumeraries
for money. This was a practice formerly winked at in most garrisons,
and was a very considerable perquisite to the adjutants and sergeant
majors; the pretence for it was to purchase coal and candle for the
guard, whence it was called burning the parade.’
Burn My Breeches! phr. (old).—A mild kind of oath. A few latter day
‘fancies’ of the same kind will be found under Oaths.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 46.
... (Bill Gibbons ne’er
In all his days was known to swear,
Except light oaths, to grace his speeches,
Like ‘dash my wig,’ or ‘burn my breeches.’)
Burn the Ken, verbal phr. (old).—To live at an inn or tavern without
paying for one’s quarters. [From burn (q.v.), to cheat, + ken, an inn,
tavern, or place.]
Burr, subs. (old).—A hanger on; a dependent; one who sponges. [An
allusion to field burrs or prickly seed pods, which when once attached
to the clothing are difficult to remove.]
Verb (Marlborough College).—To fight; scrimmage or ‘rag.’
Burst, subs. (general).—1. A spree; drunken frolic; big feed; blow out
(q.v.). Usually on the burst, an extension of the figurative usage of
the word signifying a violent outburst.—See Bust.
1880. Blackwood’s Mag., June, p. 775. He became a madman when
drunk. Once ‘on the burst,’ as he phrased it, money, horses, cows,
furniture, even his wife’s wearing apparel, went to feed the
insatiable and cruel demon who possessed him.
1881. Praed, Policy and Passion, vol. I., p. 228. When his men go
on the burst, what can he do but make his daughters help?
2. (sporting.)—A sudden and vigorous access or display of energy; a
lively pace or spurt.
Bursted, ppl. adj. (general).—Hard up. [From burst, failure or
collapse, + ed.]
1873. Chicago Daily Tribune, June 30. At the far end [of the room]
four lank and bursted frontiersmen sang with a doleful want of
melody or attention the celebrated ballad by John Hay on the fate
of Little Breeches.
Burster, subs. (racing).—1. A heavy fall; a ‘cropper.’
1863. Evening Standard, 24 April. Benedict came down a burster, and
was out of the race.