[Derivation unknown.
Connection with dial. burgot (Marshall, Norfolk), burgood (Hall.), yeast, has been conjectured. The spelling burgout (Craig, 1847) appears to be due to his notion that the word was Fr.]
A thick oatmeal gruel or porridge used chiefly by seamen; loblolly.
1750. Ellis, Country Housew., 206 (E. D. S.). Whole greets (grits) boiled in water till they burst, and then mixt with butter, and so eaten with spoons, which [was] formerly called loblolly, now burgoo.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Burgoo, a sea-faring dish.
1795. J. F. Stanfield, Patrick O’Neal, in Freemasons’ Mag., May, 347.
| I was put in a mess with some more of the crew; | |
| But they said ’twas Banyan day—so gave me burgoo. |
1825. Knapp & Baldw., Newgate Cal., III. 489/1. Burgoo of as good a quality as the barley.
1863. Sala, Capt. Dang., II. i. 15. [He] had the best Beef and Burgoo at the Skipper’s table.
comb. 1833. Marryat, P. Simple, xxxiii. Mark my words, you burgoo-eating … trowsers-scrubbing son of a bitch!
