Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

burker

noun

/ˈbɜːrkər/

Definition

A person who burks, especially in the context of suffocating or smothering someone to death for the purpose of robbery or body snatching.

Examples

He was referred to as a burker after his involvement in the dark trade of body snatching.
In stories of old, the police would be on the lookout for burkers who sought to profit from the dead.

Meaning

The term originated in the 19th century in reference to the criminal practices of William Burke, who was known for murdering people and selling their bodies for anatomical dissection.