What does "burgess" mean?

Burgess: One who represents a borough in Parliament.

Additional senses

  1. 2.A magistrate of a borough.
  2. 3.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.

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