burley

¹ American  

[bur-lee] / ˈbɜr li /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

plural

burleys

1. an American tobacco with thin leaves and light color, grown especially in Kentucky and nearby regions, used mostly in cigarettes.

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burley ² American  

[bur-lee] / ˈbɜr li /

noun

Informal.

plural

burleys

1. a burlesque show.

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Burley ³ American  

[bur-lee] / ˈbɜr li /

noun

1. a male given name.

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burley ¹ British  

/ ˈbɜːlɪ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of berley

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burley ² British  

/ ˈbɜːlɪ /

noun

1. a light thin-leaved tobacco, grown esp in Kentucky

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Etymology

Origin of burley¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; apparently from proper name

Origin of burley²

cf. burlecue, burleycue

Example Sentences

In just a few hours, they’ll be back in the fields with a hatchet in one hand and a stalk of burley tobacco in the other.

From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2021

Wagner met Dillon at the line but the burley 247-pound second-year running back carried him into the end zone.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2021

It also has burley wheels with super-wide-flange hubs, a dropper seat post, and a low center of gravity for great handling.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2018

That’s how 60-year-old Laura Donnelly ended up running alongside burley, tattooed men.

From The Guardian • Jun. 8, 2016

They eagerly traded harsh burley tobaccos then popular for the mild and sweet-tasting bright tobacco they found in Durham.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson