burgess

noun

bur·​gess ˈbər-jəs 

1

a

: a citizen of a British borough

b

: a representative of a borough, corporate town, or university in the British Parliament

2

: a representative in the popular branch of the legislature of colonial Maryland or Virginia

Examples of burgess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Every once in a while, people would put up more ribbons, and the board would take them down — with one burgess once captured in the act in a video posted on YouTube. —Christine Dempsey, courant.com, 10 Nov. 2021

Her husband, Colonel James L. Shellman, had been the first burgess or mayor of Westminster, a member of the Maryland legislature, and a prominent attorney. —Frank Batavick, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 11 June 2021

The Assembly made decisions the same way—governor, advisors and burgesses casting one vote each (the governor did wield a veto). —Richard Brookhiser, Time, 19 Nov. 2019

On Tuesday, lawmakers, members of Congress and other guests will gather at historic Jamestown for ceremonies to commemorate the meeting of the burgesses. —Washington Post, 28 July 2019

But 1619 saw another: July 30 to August 4 marked the first meeting of Jamestown’s general assembly — elected burgesses, discussing and voting on their own laws, the seed of self-rule in the new world. —Nr Editors, National Review, 12 Sep. 2019

The weather was so hot that one burgess died on the third day. —Washington Post, 30 July 2019

Big announcement on Mondays show. -- rick burgess (@bigvox) June 2, 2017 When contacted by AL.com, Burgess declined to comment. —Leada Gore, AL.com, 2 June 2017

Sharkey has been a member of the board of burgesses (the equivalent of selectmen or Town Council) for 10 years, but this was his first attempt at the warden's seat. —Janice Steinhagen, Courant Community, 18 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English burgeis, from Anglo-French, from borc town — more at bourg

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

burgess

noun

bur·​gess ˈbər-jəs 

1

: a citizen of a British borough

2

: a member of the lower house of the legislature of colonial Maryland or Virginia

Etymology

Middle English burgeis "citizen of a borough," from early French burgeis "resident of a town," from earlier burc "town," from Latin burgus "fortified place" — related to bourgeois

Biographical Definition

Burgess 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

Bur·​gess ˈbər-jəs 

Anthony 1917–1993 originally John Anthony Burgess Wilson British writer

Burgess

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

(Frank) Gelett 1866–1951 American humorist and illustrator

Burgess

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Thornton Waldo 1874–1965 American writer