[Fr.] ‘The name of several univalve nacreous shells’ (Littré).
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Burgau in natural history, the name of a large species of sea snail, of the lunar or round-mouthed kind; it is very beautifully lined with a coat, of the nature of the mother of pearl, and the artificers take this out, to use under the name of mother of pearl, though some call it after the name of the shell they take it from, burgaudine.
1865. Morning Star, 20 May. Cormorants, with wings of mother of pearl and burgau.
