v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Burked p. pr. & vb. n. Burking. ] [ From one Burke of Edinburgh, who committed the crime in 1829. ] 1. To murder by suffocation, or so as to produce few marks of violence, for the purpose of obtaining a body to be sold for dissection. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dispose of quietly or indirectly; to suppress; to smother; to shelve; as, to burke a parliamentary question. [ 1913 Webster ]

The court could not burke an inquiry, supported by such a mass of a affidavits. C. Reade. [ 1913 Webster ]