bureau
plural
1.
2.
3. Abbr. bur., bu. a. A government department or a subdivision of a department. b. An office, usually of a large organization, that is responsible for a specific duty: a news bureau. c. A business that offers information of a specified kind: a travel bureau.
[French, cloth cover for desks, desk, office, from Old French burel, woolen cloth, probably from Vulgar Latin *būra, from Late Latin burra, shaggy garment.]