Burgomaster
or BÜRGER- MEISTER, the title of the chief magistrate of German towns or cities, corresponding to the English mayor, the Scotch provost, and the French maire.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: B (166)
These 9 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Burgomaster, Burgos, Burgoyne.
Burgos
a city of northern Spain, once the capital the kingdom Castile, and now the chief town of the province of Burgos. It stands on the declivity of a hill on the right bank of the Arlanzon, and has dark, narrow streets full of ancient architecture, but there are also fine promenades in the The cathedral, commodern style. menced in 1221, is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Spain. It contains the tombs of the famous Cid, and of Don Fernando, both natives of Burgos, and celebrated throughout Spain for their heroic achievements in the wars with the Moors. Before the removal of the court to Madrid, in the 16th century, Burgos was in a very flourishing condition, and contained thrice its present population. It has some manufactures in woolens and linens. Pop. about 33,000. Province has an area of 5,480 square miles, largely hilly or mountainous, but with good agricultural and pastoral land. Pop. about 350,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Burgot, Pierre
A werewolf, burned at Besançon in 1521 with Michel Verdun (q.v.). Burial with Feet to the East: It was formerly the custom among Christians to bury their dead with the feet towards the east and head towards the west. Various reasons are given for this practice, some authorities stating that the corpse was placed thus in preparation for the reserrection, when the dead will rise with their faces towards the east. Others think this mode of burial is practised in imitation of the posture of prayer.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Burgoyne
SIR JOHN FOX, an English engineer, son of the preceding, born in London, July 24, 1782. Entering the Royal Engineers he served in Malta, Sicily, Egypt, and, with Sir John Moore and Wellington, in the Peninsula from 1809 to 1814, and was present at all the sieges, generally as first or second in command of the engineers. In 1851 he was made a lieutenant-general, and was chief of the engineering department at Sebastopol till recalled in 1855. In the following year he was created a baronet, and in 1868 a field marshal. He died Oct. 7, 1871.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Burgoyne, John
bur-goin', John (1723-1792). An English soldier. He came of a good family and secured influence by marriage into an earl's family. He sat in Parliament, served in Portugal, and joined General Gage in Boston. He was an onlooker at the battle of Bunker Hill . In 1777 he conducted the ill-fated invasion of New York by way of Canada that ended in Burgoyne's surrender, whereby army stores, artillery, and 5,791 fighting men fell into the hands of the Americans. His courage has never been questioned, but the unfortunate end of the expedition, and its influence in encouraging the French to espouse the American cause, led to Burgoyne's neglect. He was refused an audience with the king and was denied a court-martial. He resigned from the army. He wrote plays for the stage and was one of the Parliamentary committee appointed to impeach Warren Hastings. Like many another luckless commander he continued to the end to lay the blame for his defeat on others. He wrote a book to show that the British cabinet was to blame for his defeat at Saratoga. 2026 Editor's Note: "Gentleman Johnny" was also a working playwright whose comedies were staged in London. His surrender at Saratoga was the turning point of the Revolution: it persuaded France to enter the war openly on the American side, which decided the outcome. He returned to England, was never given another command, and went back to writing plays. (Ed: BR 2026-07-17)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Burgundy Pitch
the pix burgun dica, the resinous exudation of the stem of the spruce fir, abies excelsa or pinus abies, melted and strained. It is got from Switzerland, but seldom genuine. It is hard and brittle, opaque, of a dull reddish brown color, empyreumatic o odor, and aromatic taste. It gives off no water when heated, is not bitter, and is free from vesicles. It consists chiefly of resin and a little volatile oil, whence its odor. The resin resembles that of turpentine. Pitch plaster acts externally as a slight stimulant to the skin. It enters also into the composition of the iron plaster.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Burgundy Wine
the finest of all the French wines, the product of vines cultivated in the Côte-d'Or, a portion of dy. The the ancient province of Burgundy. most noted of the red wines of Burgundy are Richebourg and Chambertin. The white wines are less celebrated.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Burhanpur
a town of India, Central Provinces, formerly the capital of Kandeish, and famous for its muslin and flowered silk manufactures, which still exist to some extent, though the town has long been declining. Pop. about 20,000. Under the Moguls the city had an area of 5 square miles.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Burial of Moses, The
The, a well known poem by Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander, an Irish poet who died in 1895. There are few poems in which the language and the metrical form are more appropriate to the emotions suggested. It is, therefore, a poem that will never cease to be read. This was the truest warrior That ever buckled sword,-- This the most gifted poet That ever breathed a word; And never earth's philosopher Traced with his golden pen, On the deathless page, truths half so sage As he wrote down for men. And had he not high honor-- The hill-side for a pall,-- To lie in state while angels wait, With stars for tapers tall,-- And the dark rock-pines, like tossing plumes, Over his bier to wave, And God's own hand in that lonely land, To lay him in the grave? 2026 Editor's Note: The entry names her only for this poem, but Cecil Frances Alexander wrote hymns that outlasted it by far: " All Things Bright and Beautiful ," "Once in Royal David's City" — which still opens the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge every Christmas Eve — and "There Is a Green Hill Far Away." (Ed: BR 2026-06-09)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia