burgh

noun \ ˈbər-(ˌ)ō , ˈbə-(ˌ)rō \

Updated on: 10 Mar 2018

Definition of burgh

: borough; specifically : an incorporated town in Scotland having local jurisdiction of certain services

—

burghal

play \ˈbər-gəl\ adjective

Recent Examples of burgh from the Web

Away from Mount Hagen, a chaotic burgh wrapped in barbed wire and wood smoke, the highlands are pristine.

— sean flynn, Smithsonian, "The Reckoning," 23 Feb. 2018
The trial, with its tantalizing narrative about two lawmen pitted against one another, made headlines around the state, introducing many Oregonians to the little Malheur County burgh.

— douglas perry, OregonLive.com, "'The most cold-blooded, cowardly treachery': 22 murder cases that rocked Oregon," 22 Jan. 2018
For two solid weeks every January, the world's eyes are not on Sydney but on a Down Under burgh that's nearly 500 miles from Sydney.

— douglas perry, OregonLive.com, "Wallaby in the city! Wild animal hops through Sydney, snarling morning commute," 15 Jan. 2018
With walkable strips of galleries, boutiques, bars, and restaurants, the buzzy burghs just 15 minutes from the Loop draw tourists and locals alike.

— antonio basada, Condé Nast Traveler, "Things to Do in Wicker Park and Bucktown, Chicago," 17 Oct. 2017
The Green Township resident has relationships with deep-pocketed donors from here to Washington and is respected by GOP leaders in every burgh across the county.

— jason williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX: Is Alex Triantafilou the heir apparent to Joe Deters?," 16 Sep. 2017
Hence, wrote the Pew Research Center, many burghs known for being conservative fall left of center in the academic study’s ranking, based on the popularity of their actual municipal-government policies, such as voter support for affordable housing.

— OregonLive.com, "Buffalo is more progressive than Portland: The 50 most liberal cities in the U.S., ranked," 10 July 2017
These characters, along with almost everyone else Jules meets in this damp burgh, tell their own versions of the truth, tainted by mold and malice.

— maureen corrigan, The Denver Post, "New novel by “Girl on the Train” writer fails to thrill," 4 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'burgh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of burgh

Middle English — more at borough

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First Known Use: 12th century

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burgh

Definition of burgh

burghal

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burgh

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burghal

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