BURGESS Meaning and
Definition
-
A "burgess" is an archaic term that refers to an inhabitant or citizen of a borough or town, mainly in medieval England or Scotland. The word originated from the Old English word "burg," which means "a fortified place" or "town."
In the historical context, a burgess was someone who held full citizenship rights within a borough, granting them certain privileges and responsibilities. Typically, these individuals were members of the middle or upper class, owning property, and engaging in trade or commerce. Burgess status bestowed upon them the right to participate in local governance, such as lawmaking, administration, and jury duty.
The role of a burgess varied depending on the specific region and period. In some cases, burgesses formed a governing body known as the borough council or corporation, responsible for making decisions that affected the local community. They often chose a burgess representative or mayor to serve as the chief executive of the town. In other instances, the burgesses had more limited powers, mainly assisting local lords or landowners in the administration of their estates.
Over time, the concept of burgess became less relevant as social structures evolved, gradually making way for modern forms of local government. Today, the term "burgess" is seldom used, except occasionally in a historical or symbolic context, to refer to someone from a specific town or borough.
-
A citizen or freeman of a town.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for BURGESS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for BURGESS
Etymology of BURGESS
The word "burgess" originated in Old English as "burg" or "burh". "Burg" meant a fortified town or stronghold, while "burh" meant a fortified dwelling or fortified place. The suffix "-ess" was added to indicate someone who resided or held a position in a particular place. Therefore, a "burgess" referred to an inhabitant or freeman of a borough or town, specifically one who possessed certain rights and privileges. This term has its roots in Germanic and Scandinavian languages, with similar words found in Old High German as "burgari" and Old Norse as "borgari". Over time, "burgess" became a common term to describe a citizen in medieval England.
Idioms with the word BURGESS
Similar spelling words for BURGESS
- urges,
- barges,
- Burkes,
- budges,
- Burgos,
- Burgeson,
- borges,
- bugs,
- bulges,
- bourgeois,
- Burges.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
