(in certain states of the U.S.) an incorporated municipality smaller than a city.
2.
one of the five administrative divisions of New York City.
3.
British.
a.
an urban community incorporated by royal charter, similar to an incorporated city or municipality in the U.S.
b.
a town, area, or constituency represented by a Member of Parliament.
c.
(formerly) a fortified town organized as and having some of the powers of an independent country.
4.
(in Alaska) an administrative division similar to a county in other states.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME burw(e), borwg(h), borogh, bor(u)g, bur(u)g, burgh town, OE burg fortified town; c. ON borg, OS, D burg, G Burg castle, Goth baurgs city; MIr brí, brig, Welsh, Breton bre hill, Avestan bərəz- height; akin to Armenian bardzr, Hittite parkus high. See barrow2.]
O.E. burg, burh "castle, manor house, fortified place" (related to beorg "hill"), from P.Gmc. *burgs "fortress" (cf. O.N. borg "wall, castle," Ger. Burg "castle," Goth. baurgs "city"), from PIE *bhrgh "high," with derivatives referring to hills, hill forts, fortified elevations (cf. Welsh bera "stack, pyramid," Skt. bhrant-, Avestan brzant- "high," Gk. Pergamos, name of the citadel of Troy). In Ger. and O.N., chiefly as "fortress, castle;" in Goth. "town, civic community." Meaning shifted M.E. from "fortress," to "fortified town," to simply "town" (especially one possessing municipal organization or sending representatives to Parliament). In U.S. (originally Pennsylvania, 1718) often an incorporated town; in Alaska, however, it is the equivalent of a county. The Scot. form is burgh. The O.E. dative singular byrig is found in many place names as -bury.
Bar"row\, n. [OE. bergh, AS. beorg, beorh, hill, sepulchral mound; akin to G. berg mountain, Goth. bairgahei hill, hilly country, and perh. to Skr. b?hant high, OIr. brigh mountain. Cf. Berg, Berry a mound, and Borough an incorporated town.]1. A large mound of earth or stones over the remains of the dead; a tumulus. 2. (Mining) A heap of rubbish, attle, etc.
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