borough Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun one of the administrative divisions of a large city
  2. noun an English town that forms the constituency of a member of parliament

WordNet

Bor"ough noun
Etymology
OE. burgh, burw, boru, port, town, burrow, AS. burh, burg; akin to Icel., Sw., & Dan. borg, OS. & D. burg, OHG. puruc, purc, MHG. burc, G. burg, Goth. baúrgs; and from the root of AS. beorgan to hide, save, defend, G. bergen; or perh. from that of AS. beorg hill, mountain. 95. See Bury, v. t., and cf. Burrow, Burg, Bury, n., Burgess, Iceberg, Borrow, Harbor, Hauberk.
Definitions
  1. In England, an incorporated town that is not a city; also, a town that sends members to parliament; in Scotland, a body corporate, consisting of the inhabitants of a certain district, erected by the sovereign, with a certain jurisdiction; in America, an incorporated town or village, as in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Burrill. Erskine.
  2. The collective body of citizens or inhabitants of a borough; as, the borough voted to lay a tax.
Bor"ough noun
Etymology
See Borrow.
Definitions
  1. (O. Eng. Law) (a) An association of men who gave pledges or sureties to the king for the good behavior of each other. (b) The pledge or surety thus given. Blackstone. Tomlins.

Webster 1913