Thread: Burl vs Burr

My understanding is that "Burl" is an American (USA) term, whilst "Burr" is a term commonly used in England. Both terms seem to be in common use in Australia, with Burl to my ears being somewhat more commonly used that Burr, probably because of the predominance of American Woodworking Magazines and Internet Sources using the term Burl.

RoyG

Add to that, the misshapen edge of a badly finished piece of metal is a "burr." Also, a botanical term for a dry type of fruit with hooked spines on the surface. I'm told that such burrs were the inspiration for Velcro.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burl

and under Burr in Wikipedia

Other uses

• Burr (edge), deformation of metal wherein a raised edge forms on a metal part which has been machined
• Burr (cutter), small cutter used in rotary tools for metalworking
• British spelling for burl, an irregular growth in trees
• Alternate spelling for bur, spiky seed pod
• Burr, abbreviation for the orchid genus Burrageara
• Burr, or Borr, a god of Norse mythology
• Burr (novel), book about Aaron Burr by Gore Vidal
• Burr Redding, a fictional character in the television series Oz
• Burr Gymnasium, a multi-purpose arena in Washington, D.C., home of the Howard University basketball team
• Alternate name for a butch cut

Adding to the above, in America, they apparently refer to branch end caps as burrs