\Bur"gess\, n. [OE. burgeis, OF. burgeis, fr.
burcfortified town, town, F. bourg village, fr. LL. burgus
fort, city; from the German; cf. MHG. burc, G. burg. See 1st
{Borough}, and cf. 2d {Bourgeois}.]
1. An inhabitant of a borough or walled town, or one who
   possesses a tenement therein; a citizen or freeman of a
   borough. --Blackstone.
Note: ``A burgess of a borough corresponds with a citizen of
      a city.'' --Burrill.
2. One who represents a borough in Parliament.
3. A magistrate of a borough.
4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for
   municipal officers.
Note: 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.