burrow

Etymology

From Middle English borowe, borewe, borwȝ, burȝe, burh, burye (“refuge for an animal, lair, burrow”), apparently a variant of Middle English burgh (“fortified dwelling, stronghold, refuge”) (see borough) and thus from Old English burh, from Proto-Germanic *burgz (“stronghold, city”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“high”), but this sense is not known in Old English burh. Compare, however, Dutch cognate burcht, which has a similar sense. It may be related to bury (“to dig”), in which case it would be derived from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʰ- (“to protect, defend, save, preserve”).

noun

1. A tunnel or hole, often as dug by a small creature.
2. (mining) A heap or heaps of rubbish or refuse.
3. Obsolete form of barrow. A mound.
4. Obsolete form of borough. An incorporated town.

verb

1. (intransitive) to dig a tunnel or hole
2. (intransitive) (with adverbial of direction) to move underneath or press up against in search of safety or comfort
   The young girl burrowed into the bed.
3. (intransitive) (with into) to investigate thoroughly
   The journalist burrowed into the origins of the mayor's corruption.