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Sticker Burr

In Appalachian and Southern speech, a "sticker burr" is the prickly seed head of plants like cockleburs or sandburs that cling to socks, pants, or a dog’s fur. It combines "sticker" (something sharp) with "burr" (a clinging seed).

#SouthernWords   #Appalachia   #Nature   #Southern   #FarmTalk

Hillbilly Dude Says...
We usually shorten it from 'sticker burrs' to just 'burrs' around here. 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We usually shorten it from 'sticker burrs' to just 'burrs' around here. 

Pronunciation

[STIK-ur bur]

Meaning & Usage

- A burr that sticks to clothes or fur (noun)

Mae:
These woods is full of sticker burrs - I got a dozen on my socks.
Earl:
Better pluck ’em off before you sit in the truck.
variations: burr, cocklebur, sandbur, burdock, hitchhiker, pricker ball, beggar’s lice (related)
★ "Sticker burr" is a country double-up: "sticker" for what scratches, "burr" for what clings. Together it marks those little hitchhikers every Southern kid’s battled. ★

Origin and Etymology

From the fusion of "sticker" (something sharp or prickly) and "burr" (a clinging seed head). Strongly rooted in Southern and Appalachian plain speech.

Usage Notes

Common across Appalachia, the South, and rural America. Often used by kids and parents more than just "burr." Many families treat "sticker burr" and "burr" as interchangeable.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "stik-ur bur." The "r" on burr often softens off.

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Is a "sticker burr" the same as a burr?
Yes - it’s just the country way of naming it.
Do sticker burrs actually poke?
They don’t stab like thorns, but their little spines can scratch and stick hard.
Do people still say "sticker burr"?
Absolutely - it’s one of the most common farm-and-field kid words.

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