E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Burgun’dian.
A Burgundian blow, i.e. decapitation. The Duc de Biron, who was put to death for treason by Henri IV., was told in his youth, by a fortune-teller, “to beware of a Burgundian blow.” When going to execution, he asked who was to be his executioner, and was told he was a man from Burgundy.
