BURGESS

burgess, burgher

(noun) a citizen of an English borough

Burgess, Anthony Burgess

(noun) English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

burgess (plural burgesses)

An inhabitant of a borough with full rights; a citizen.

(historical) A town magistrate.

(historical, UK) A representative of a borough in the Parliament.

(historical, US) A member of the House of Burgesses, a legislative body in colonial America, established by the Virginia Company to provide civil rule in the colonies.

Etymology

Proper noun

Burgess

A surname.

Source: Wiktionary

Bur"gess, n. Etym: [OE. burgeis, OF. burgeis, fr. burcfortified town, town, F. bourg village, fr. LL. burgus fort, city; from the German; cf. MHG. burc, G. burg. See 1st Borough, and cf. 2d Bourgeois.]

1. An inhabitant of a borough or walled town, or one who possesses a tenement therein; a citizen or freeman of a borough. Blackstone.

Note: "A burgess of a borough corresponds with a citizen of a city." Burrill.

2. One who represents a borough in Parliament.

3. A magistrate of a borough.

4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for municipal officers.

Note: Before the Revolution, the representatives in the popular branch of the legislature of Virginia were called burgesses; they are now called delegates. Burgess oath. See Burgher, 2.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition