Green’s Dictionary of Slang

burst n.¹

(UK Und.) a burglary, a break-in; also attrib.

1834		Sun (N.Y.) 20 June 2/2: Off.—I heard you used to be a good Backsman. — Have you ‘Ogled a Dummy’ any where? Con.—Yes! a first rate one for a ‘smash,’ and pretty good on a ‘burst.’.
1857		‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue.
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 7/2: Joe Kay being more on the ‘bust’ game than anything else, had arranged his ‘tools’ along with him. [Ibid.] 18/2: We cared little about chancing it, satisfying ourselves with reconnoitring for a ‘burst’.
1885		M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 23: They all agree in the opinion that the latter [i.e. America] is the most difficult and dangerous country in which to do a ‘burst’ (burglary).
1891		J. Bent Criminal Life 106: ‘There is a burst,’ I observed to the constable.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 5 Aug. 5/6: And, planning how to make a burst, / went prowling round all Sydney.
1896		‘Thieves’ Sl.’ Gent.’s Mag. CCLXXXI Oct. 349: Two prison inscriptions in the cells: ‘A burst (burglary) in the City. Copped when boning the swag (booty)’.
1906		O.C. Malvery Soul Market 290: To ‘do a burst’ is to commit a burglary.
1910		D. Stewart Tragedy of the White House in Illus. Police News 20 Aug. 12/3: ‘He’s got a rare dose of the quids — did a burst (broke into a house) last night’.

SE in slang uses

In phrases

give someone a burst (v.) [SE burst of fire]

to complain, to criticize, to remind strongly.

1996

Mr Berry Aus. Parliament in Hansard 🌐 4 Sept. 3080: She gave him a ring at home and gave him a burst as well: ‘How dare you disagree with me! How dare you expose me for my frailties!’.