Word of the Day: Borough/Burro/Burrow

borough   bor-ough  /  bûr-ō   noun  

1. an incorporated town in some states

Our language can be seen as an ancient city: a maze of little streets and squares, of old and new houses, and of houses with additions from various periods; and this surrounded by a multitude of new boroughs with straight regular streets and uniform houses. Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1889 – 1951  

2. an administrative unit of a large city

I know there’s Brooklyn and all the boroughs, but Manhattan specifically is so condensed that the energy is very vibrant. Theo James, 1984 –  

3. a division in Alaska, similar to a county in other US States

The U.S. state of Alaska is divided into 19 organized boroughs and one Unorganized Borough.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_boroughs_and_census_areas_in_Alaska, 7-24-2019  

4. a fortified or secure village or town

The church of St. Nicholas was the religious centre of the medieval borough of the same name and performed an important military and defensive function for the people of the borough. “Pamplona – Kingdom of Navarra”, www.turismo.navarra.es  

5. in Great Britain, a town that is represented by a Parliament Member or an incorporated, self-governing community

Representation in the boroughs was on a less worthy scale in the reign of George III. From “Lord John Russell” by Stuart J. Reid, 1848 – 1927   burro bur-ro  /  bûr-ō,  bŭr-ō or bo͝or-ō   noun  

1. a small donkey, often used to carry loads

We’ll take a burro, or a pack-train of burros,’ was my suggestion. From “The Red One” by Jack London, 1876 – 1916                   burrow bur-row  /  bûr-ō,  bŭr-ō   noun  

1. a den in a tunnel or hole made by a small animal

The burrows have two or more doors, so that if a weasel or some other enemy goes in at one door, the rabbit runs out at the other. From “Friends in Feathers and Fur, and Other Neighbors” by James Johonnot, 1823 – 1888  

2. a small, snug place

Her home is the burrow of a bibliophile hobbit — low-ceilinged, close-walled, and brimming over with books. From “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore” by Robin Sloan, 1979 –     verb  

1. to dig or hide in a hole or tunnel

Man can now fly in the air like a bird, swim under the ocean like a fish, he can burrow into the ground like a mole. Tommy Douglas 1904-1986  

2. to move or proceed in a manner that resembles tunneling or digging

And some time,’ said she, ‘I will show you the library: I never examined its shelves, but, I daresay, it is full of wise books; and you may go and burrow among them whenever you please. From “Agnes Grey” by Ann Bronte, 1820 – 1849