Burrs Inspired the Invention of Velcro
A burr is a prickly seed case that clings to fur and clothing. A Swiss engineer turned one into a fastener.
A burr is a prickly seed case that catches on fur or clothing, and also a rough edge left on cut metal. In 1941 the Swiss engineer George de Mestral pulled burdock burrs off his dog, looked at them under a microscope and found tiny hooks. He spent years copying the mechanism, and the result was Velcro, from *velours* and *crochet*, French for velvet and hook. A *burr* is also the rolled R heard in some regional accents.
- A prickly seed case. *Burrs in the dog's coat.*
- A rough edge on metal. *File off the burr.*
- A rolled R. *A burr in his speech.*
- Velcro — inspired by burrs. *Velcro.*
- Middle English — *burre*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | burr | A burr. |
| Plural | burrs | Burrs. |
| Variant | bur | A bur. |
| Verb | burr | Burring. |
| Related | burdock | Burdock. |
- Burrs clung to his trousers.Plant.
- File the burr off the edge.Metalwork.
- Velcro copied the hooks.Invention.
Inventions copied from nature
- Velcro — burdock burr hooks, 1941
- Bullet train nose — the kingfisher's beak
- Sharkskin swimsuits — denticles that reduce drag
- Self-cleaning paint — the lotus leaf surface
- The field is called biomimicry
Middle English *burre*, probably of Scandinavian origin, related to Danish *borre*, a bur.
How did burrs lead to Velcro?
George de Mestral examined burdock burrs under a microscope in 1941, found tiny hooks, and spent years reproducing them in fabric.
What is a burr in metalwork?
A rough raised edge left after cutting or drilling, which is removed by filing or deburring.