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).
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.
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.
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
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 27). Sticker Burr. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker-burr
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Sticker Burr." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker-burr.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Sticker Burr." HillbillySlang.com. August 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker-burr.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...