Burn, verb (thieves).—To cheat; to swindle.
Burnanded, verb (? nonce word).—To pilfer plots (of plays, novels, etc.). [Probably only a nonce word; a formation on the same lines as 'Burke,' 'Boycott,' etc., from the name of Mr. F. Burnand, the editor of Punch.]
1882. Echo, Feb. 11, p. 3. The American papers continue to attack the play [The Colonel] vigorously. One of the journals there has invented a new verb to signify the pilfering of plots. 'Burnanded' is the term.
Burn Crust, subs. (old).—A jocular name for a baker. Cf., Master of the mint for a gardener; Bung for a brewer; Ball of wax for a shoemaker; Quill-driver for a clerk; Snip for a tailor, etc.
Burned. To be burned, verb (old).—To be infected with a venereal disease.—See Burning.
1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. He was sent out a sacrifice, and came home a burnt offering; saying of seamen who have caught the venereal disease abroad.
Burner, subs. (old).—1. A card-sharper.
2. (old.)—The same as burning (q.v.).
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.
