Burgessess

Burgessess [fr. burgeise, O.E.; burgeois, O. fr.; birgensis, Lat.], generally the inhabitants of a borough or walled town; sometimes restricted to the magistrates, etc., of corporate towns, and sometimes to the representatives of a borough in the Commons House of Parliament; in and for the purposes of the (English) Municipal Corporations Act, 1882 (45 & 46 Vict. c. 50), those persons who by one year's residence in a borough and occupation of property and payment of rates are entitled to be 'enrolled,' and when enrolled, to elect the 'council,' by which a municipal corporation is capable of acting. The term 'Local Government electors' was substituted for 'burgesses' by the (English) Representation of the People Act, 1918 (c. 64), s. 72, sched. 6, par. 2. See MUNICIPAL CORPORATION.