A member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions.
A member of the higher branch of the municipal or borough council in England and Ireland before 1974.
A noble of high rank or authority in Anglo-Saxon England.
The chief officer of a shire in Anglo-Saxon England.
[Middle English, a person of high rank, from Old English ealdorman : ealdor, elder, chief (from eald, old; see al-2 in Indo-European roots) + man, man; see man.] al'der·man·cy (-sē) n., al'der·man'ic (-mān'ĭk) adj.
al·der·wom·an (ôl'dər-wŏŏm'ən) n.
Abbr. Ald. A woman who is a member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions.
(ôl'dər-mən) 