[f. BURST v.]
1. The process or action of breaking suddenly and violently, as under tension.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 158. Thar wes of speris sic bristing.
1575. J. Still, Gamm. Gurton, I. iii. We would not greatly care For bursting of her huckle-bone.
c. 1600. Rob. Hood (Ritson), I. iv. 47. And it were not for bursting of my bowe, John, I thy head wold breake.
1611. Bible, Isa. xxx. 14. There shall not be found in the bursting of it, a sheard.
b. spec. by internal force or pressure.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 291 b. The body is not able to receyue it all, without feare of brastynge.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., II. i. 38. The wretched annimall heau’d forth such groanes That their discharge did stretch his leatherne coat Almost to bursting.
1885. Manchester Exam., 22 Sept., 5/2. The damage caused by the bursting of an embankment.
† 2. spec. Rupture; hernia. Obs.
1544. Phaër, Regim. Lyfe (1560), U viij b. To remove the swelling of the coddes proceding of ventositie, or of anye other cause (except brustyng).
† 3. Explosion, explosive noise. Obs.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl. (1793), II. 34. The bursting, belching, and brattling of the French horns in the passage.
4. Rushing impetuously from restraint or rest.
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, lxiii. 86. The lion … With a step, a roar, a bursting unarrested of any brake.
5. comb. with various advbs. (cf. the vb.)
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 50. Brestynge downe, prostracio.
1552. Huloet, Aposthume, or brasting out.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 474, ¶ 2. The occasional burstings out into laughter.
6. attrib. bursting charge, the charge of powder required for bursting a shell or case-shot; a small charge of fine powder placed in contact with a charge of coarser powder to ensure the ignition of the latter.
1858. Greener, Gunnery, 134. The bursting charge is very small, but it suffices to break the shell into about 30 pieces.
1862. F. Griffiths, Artil. Man. (ed. 9), 194. Loaded shells should never be fired with less than the authorized bursting charge.
