burgess

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English burgeis, from Anglo-Norman burgeis, of Proto-Germanic origin; either from Late Latin burgensis (from Latin burgus), or from Frankish *burg, both from Proto-Germanic *burgz (“stronghold, city”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ-. See also bourgeois, burgish. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈbɜːd͡ʒɪs/ === 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. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References ===