‖ echevin
(eʃəvɛ̃)
[F. échevin, OF. eschevin = It. schiavino:—med.L. scabinus; of Teut. origin; cf. OLG. scepeno (Schade), OHG. sceffeno, sceffen (Ger. schöffe(n, schöppen).]
A municipal functionary in French and Belgian towns, corresponding nearly to an English alderman.
| 1766 Smollett Trav. (1797) 17 The civil magistracy of Boulogne consists of a mayor and echevins. 1881 Edin. Rev. Jan. 81 A highly connected echevin or alderman of Ghent. |