A matsayin fi’ili, “Burke” na nufin kashe wani ta hanyar shakewa ko shakewa, yawanci ta hanyar danna maqogwaro da manyan yatsa, ko danne ko kawar da wani abu, kamar ra’ayi ko shaida, ba tare da la’akari ko muhawara ba. Kalmar ta samo asali ne daga shari'ar William Burke, wanda ya aikata kisa a farkon karni na 19 ta hanyar shake wadanda abin ya shafa, kuma tun daga lokacin ana amfani da shi ta hanyar misaltuwa don nufin murkushewa ko kawar da wani abu ta irin wannan hanya.