Part 873

3. A magistrate of a borough.

4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for municipal officers.

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.

Bur"gess-ship (&?;), n. The state of privilege of a burgess. South.

Burg"grave (&?;), n. [G. burggraf; burg fortress + graf count: cf. D. burggraaf, F. burgrave. See Margrave.] (Germany) Originally, one appointed to the command of a burg (fortress or castle); but the title afterward became hereditary, with a domain attached.

Burgh (&?;), n. [OE. See Burg.] A borough or incorporated town, especially, one in Scotland. See Borough.

Burgh"al (&?;), a. Belonging to a burgh.

Burgh"bote` (&?;), n. [Burgh + bote.] (Old Law) A contribution toward the building or repairing of castles or walls for the defense of a city or town.

Burgh"brech` (&?;), n. [Burgh + F. brèche, equiv. to E. breach.] (AS. Law) The offense of violating the pledge given by every inhabitant of a tithing to keep the peace; breach of the peace. Burrill.

Burgh"er (&?;), n. [From burgh; akin to D. burger, G. bürger, Dan. borger, Sw. borgare. See Burgh.] 1. A freeman of a burgh or borough, entitled to enjoy the privileges of the place; any inhabitant of a borough.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) A member of that party, among the Scotch seceders, which asserted the lawfulness of the burgess oath (in which burgesses profess "the true religion professed within the realm"), the opposite party being called antiburghers.

These parties arose among the Presbyterians of Scotland, in 1747, and in 1820 reunited under the name of the "United Associate Synod of the Secession Church."

Burgh"er*mas`ter (&?;), n. See Burgomaster.

Burgh"er*ship (&?;), n. The state or privileges of a burgher.

Burgh"mas`ter (&?;), n. 1. A burgomaster.

2. (Mining) An officer who directs and lays out the meres or boundaries for the workmen; -- called also bailiff, and barmaster. [Eng.]

Burgh"mote` (&?;), n. (AS. Law) [Burgh + mote meeting.] A court or meeting of a burgh or borough; a borough court held three times yearly.

Bur"glar (&?;), n. [OE. burg town, F. bourg, fr. LL. burgus (of German origin) + OF. lere thief, fr. L. latro. See Borough, and Larceny.] (Law) One guilty of the crime of burglary.

Burglar alarm, a device for giving alarm if a door or window is opened from without.

Bur"glar*er (&?;), n. A burglar. [Obs.]

Bur*gla"ri*ous (&?;), a. Pertaining to burglary; constituting the crime of burglary.

To come down a chimney is held a burglarious entry. Blackstone.

Bur*gla"ri*ous*ly, adv. With an intent to commit burglary; in the manner of a burglar. Blackstone.

Bur"gla*ry (&?;), n.; pl. Burglaries (&?;). [Fr. Burglar; cf. LL. burglaria.] (Law) Breaking and entering the dwelling house of another, in the nighttime, with intent to commit a felony therein, whether the felonious purpose be accomplished or not. Wharton. Burrill.

By statute law in some of the United States, burglary includes the breaking with felonious intent into a house by day as well as by night, and into other buildings than dwelling houses. Various degrees of the crime are established.

Bur"go*mas`ter (&?;), n. [D. burgemeester; burg borough + meester master; akin to G. burgemeister, bürgermeister. See 1st Borough, and Master.] 1. A chief magistrate of a municipal town in Holland, Flanders, and Germany, corresponding to mayor in England and the United States; a burghmaster.

2. (Zoöl.) An aquatic bird, the glaucous gull (Larus glaucus), common in arctic regions.