burgomaster
(ˈbɜːgəʊˌmɑːstə(r))
Also 6–7 bourgomaster.
[ad. Du. burgemeester, after Eng. master; see also burgher-, borough-master.]
1. The chief magistrate of a Dutch or Flemish town, nearly corresponding to the mayor in England. Often used loosely for any member of the governing body of a foreign municipality. Also for borough-master, as an official title in certain English boroughs.
| 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (1842) 69 The beare beeing chiefe burgomaster of all the beastes vnder the lyon. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. i. 84, I am ioyned with..Burgomasters, and great Oneyers, such as can holde in. a 1598 Hakluyt Voy. I. 157 Euery of the foresayd cities sent one of their burgomasters vnto the towne of Hage in Holland. 1707 Lond. Gaz. No. 4350/1 The..Freeholders, Burgomasters, and other Inhabitants, of the ancient Borough of Cricklade. c 1710 Addison (J.) They chuse their councils and burgomasters out of the burgeois, as in the other governments of Switzerland. 1779 Johnson Boerhaave Wks. IV. 356 The only daughter of a burgo-master of Leyden. 1864 Kirk Chas. Bold II. iv. i. 220 The Burgo⁓masters were..employed in strengthening the defences. |
2. A species of gull (Larus glaucus).
| 1678 Ray Willughby's Ornith. 349 The Great grey Gull..called at Amsterdam the Burgomaster of Groenland. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Burgomaster of Greenland..a whimsical name given by the Dutch sailors to a species of..sea gull. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xvi. (1856) 124 The birds, too, were back with us..the Ivory gull, the Burgomaster, and the tern. 1883 tr. Nordenskiöld's Voy. Vega 43. |