A rough edge or ridge left on metal after cutting or drilling, or a seed case with hooks or prickles.
Middle English, possibly from Old Norse 'burr' meaning a rough or prickly covering. The metalworking sense developed from the similarity to the rough texture of plant burrs.
Velcro was famously invented after observing how burrs stick to clothing and animal fur. This humble plant structure inspired one of the most widely used fastening systems in modern life, demonstrating biomimicry at its finest.
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