[a. F. bourre ‘padding,’ also ‘refuse of raw silk.’ Cf. BURL sb.]
1. A sort of pad for a saddle.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 345/1. The French Pad Saddle … the Burs of it come wholly round the seat.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., II. 6 a/2. Pad Saddle, of which there are Two sorts, some being made with Burrs before the Seat, others with Bolsters under the Thighs.
2. The refuse of raw silk.
1798. W. Hutton, Autobiog., 117. To take out the burs and uneven parts [of a thread of silk].
1812. Smyth, Pract. Customs, 185. Waste Silk is what surrounds the cocoon, and serves to fasten it to the twigs. This Burr is proper to stuff quilts.
