burgess

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Burgess
    n 1: English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993) [syn:
         {Burgess}, {Anthony Burgess}]
    2: a citizen of an English borough [syn: {burgess}, {burgher}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Burgess \Bur"gess\, n. [OE. burgeis, OF. burgeis, fr.
   burcfortified town, town, F. bourg village, fr. LL. burgus
   fort, city; from the German; cf. MHG. burc, G. burg. See 1st
   {Borough}, and cf. 2d {Bourgeois}.]
   1. An inhabitant of a borough or walled town, or one who
      possesses a tenement therein; a citizen or freeman of a
      borough. --Blackstone.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: "A burgess of a borough corresponds with a citizen of a
         city." --Burrill.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. One who represents a borough in Parliament.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A magistrate of a borough.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for
      municipal officers.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Before the Revolution, the representatives in the
         popular branch of the legislature of Virginia were
         called burgesses; they are now called delegates.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Burgess oath}. See {Burgher}, 2.
      [1913 Webster]

from U.S. Gazetteer (1990)

Burgess, MO (town, FIPS 9802)
  Location: 37.55617 N, 94.61485 W
  Population (1990): 97 (40 housing units)
  Area: 0.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Burgess, VA
  Zip code(s): 22432

from U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000)

Burgess, MO -- U.S. town in Missouri
   Population (2000):    70
   Housing Units (2000): 33
   Land area (2000):     0.075088 sq. miles (0.194476 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    0.075088 sq. miles (0.194476 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            09802
   Located within:       Missouri (MO), FIPS 29
   Location:             37.555890 N, 94.615703 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):    
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Burgess, MO
    Burgess

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

BURGESS. A magistrate of a borough; generally, the chief officer of the 
corporation, who performs, within the borough, the same kind of duties which 
a mayor does in a city. In England, the word is sometimes applied to all the 
inhabitants of a borough, who are called burgesses sometimes it  signifies 
the representatives of a borough in parliament.