or Burdon (French bourdon, a drone), in Music, the drone, or bass, and the pipe or string which plays it; hence applied to that part of a song which is repeated at the end of every stanza. A chord which is divided so as to perform the intervals of music, when open and undivided, is also called the burden.

Burthen (Saxon byrden, or byrthen), a fixed quantity of any commodity for transit.

Burden of a Ship, its contents, or the number of tons it will carry. See Tonnage.