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1828.mshaffer.com › Word [borough]
BOROUGH, n. bur'ro. [L.parcus, saving.] Originally, a fortified city or town; hence a hill, for hills were selected for places of defense. But in later times, the term city was substituted to denote an episcopal town, in which was the see of a bishop, and that of borough was retained for the rest. At present, the name is given appropriately to such towns and villages as send representatives or burgesses to Parliament. Some boroughs are incorporated, other are not. BOROUGH, n. bur'ro. In Saxon times, a main pledge, or association of men, who were sureties or free pledges to the king for the good behavior of each other, and if any offense was committed in their district, they were bound to have the offender forthcoming. The association of ten men was called a tithing, or decenary; the presiding man was called the tithing man, or head-borough; or in some places, borsholder, borough's elder. This society was called also friburg, free burg, frank pledge. Ten tithings formed a hundred, consisting of that number of sureties, and this denomination is still given to the districts, comprehended in the association. The term seems to have been used both for the society and for each surety. The word main, hand, which is attached to this society, or their mutual assurance, indicates that the agreement was ratified by shaking hands. Some writers have suggested that the application of this word to towns sprung from these associations, and of course was posterior to them in time. But the word was used for a town or castle in other nations, and in Asia, doubtless long before the origin of the frank pledge. In Connecticut, this word, borough, is used for a town or a part of a town, or a village, incorporated with certain privileges, distinct from those of other towns and of cities; as the Borough of Bridgeport. In Scotland, a borough is a body corporate, consisting of the inhabitants of a certain district,erected by the Sovereign, with a certain jurisdiction. Boroughs are erected to be held of the sovereign, as is generally the case of royal boroughs; or of the superior of the lands included, as in the case of boroughs of regality and barony. Royal boroughs are generally erected for the advantage of trade. Boroughs English, is a customary descent of lands and tenements to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner leaves no son, to the youngest brother. Borough English,is a customary descent of lands and tenements to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner leaves no son, to the youngest brother. Borough-head, the same as head-borough, the chief of a borough.
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Evolution (or devolution) of this word [borough]
1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
BOROUGH, n. bur'ro. [L.parcus, saving.] Originally, a fortified city or town; hence a hill, for hills were selected for places of defense. But in later times, the term city was substituted to denote an episcopal town, in which was the see of a bishop, and that of borough was retained for the rest. At present, the name is given appropriately to such towns and villages as send representatives or burgesses to Parliament. Some boroughs are incorporated, other are not. BOROUGH, n. bur'ro. In Saxon times, a main pledge, or association of men, who were sureties or free pledges to the king for the good behavior of each other, and if any offense was committed in their district, they were bound to have the offender forthcoming. The association of ten men was called a tithing, or decenary; the presiding man was called the tithing man, or head-borough; or in some places, borsholder, borough's elder. This society was called also friburg, free burg, frank pledge. Ten tithings formed a hundred, consisting of that number of sureties, and this denomination is still given to the districts, comprehended in the association. The term seems to have been used both for the society and for each surety. The word main, hand, which is attached to this society, or their mutual assurance, indicates that the agreement was ratified by shaking hands. Some writers have suggested that the application of this word to towns sprung from these associations, and of course was posterior to them in time. But the word was used for a town or castle in other nations, and in Asia, doubtless long before the origin of the frank pledge. In Connecticut, this word, borough, is used for a town or a part of a town, or a village, incorporated with certain privileges, distinct from those of other towns and of cities; as the Borough of Bridgeport. In Scotland, a borough is a body corporate, consisting of the inhabitants of a certain district,erected by the Sovereign, with a certain jurisdiction. Boroughs are erected to be held of the sovereign, as is generally the case of royal boroughs; or of the superior of the lands included, as in the case of boroughs of regality and barony. Royal boroughs are generally erected for the advantage of trade. Boroughs English, is a customary descent of lands and tenements to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner leaves no son, to the youngest brother. Borough English,is a customary descent of lands and tenements to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner leaves no son, to the youngest brother. Borough-head, the same as head-borough, the chief of a borough. | BOR'OUGH, n.1 [bur'ro; Goth. bairgs; Sax. burg, burh, beorh, beorg, byrig; Ir. brog; Fr. bourg; It. borgo; Sp. burgo; D. burg and berg; Dan. borg; Arm. bourg; G. burg and berg; Gr. πυργος; Ar. بُرْجٌ borachon; Sans. bura. This word, in Saxon, is interpreted a hill, heap, mountain, fortification, castle, tower, city, house and tomb. Hence Perga, in Pamphylia, Bergen, in Norway, Burgos, in Spain, and probably Prague, in Bohemia. In W. bwr, bwrc, signifies a wall, rampart, or work for defense, and bwrdais is a burgess. But the original sense probably is found in the verb Sax. beorgan, D. and G. bergen, Russ. beregu, to keep, or save, that is, to make close or secure. Hence it coincides with park, and L. parcus, saving. See the next word. If the noun is the primary word, denoting hill, this is from throwing together, collecting; a sense allied to that of making fast or close.]Originally, a fortified city or town; hence a hill, for hills were selected for places of defense. But in later times the term city was substituted to denote an episcopal town, in which was the see of a bishop, and that of borough was retained for the rest. At present, the name is given appropriately to such towns and villages as send representatives or burgesses to Parliament. Some boroughs are incorporated, others are not. – Blackstone. Encyc. BOR'OUGH, n.2 [bur'ro; Sax. borhoe, a surety; borgian, to borrow; borg, interest; borga, a debtor, a surety; borgwed, a promise or bond for appearance, a pledge; borg-bryce, burg-break, violation of pledge; borghand, borhhand, a surety or bail; beorgan, to keep, guard or preserve; G. and D. borgen, to borrow. See the preceding word.]In Saxon times, a main pledge, or association of men, who were sureties or free pledges to the king for the good behavior of each other, and if any offense was committed in their district, they were bound to have the offender forthcoming. The association of ten men was called a tithing, or decenary; the presiding man was called the tithing-man, or head-borough; or in some places, borsholder, borough's elder. This society was called also friburg, free burg, frank
pledge. Ten tithings formed a hundred, consisting of that number of sureties, and this denomination is still given to the districts comprehended in the association. The term seems to have been used both for the society and for each surety. The word main, hand, which is attached to this society, or their mutual assurance, indicates that the agreement was ratified by shaking hands. Spelman. Blackstone. Cowel.
Some writers have suggested that the application of this word to towns sprung from these associations, and of course was posterior to them in time. [See Encyc. Art. Borough.] But the word was used for a town or castle in other nations, and in Asia, doubtless long before the origin of the frank pledge.
In Connecticut, this word, borough, is used for a town or a part of a town, or a village, incorporated with certain privileges, distinct from those of other towns and of cities.
In Scotland, a borough is a body corporate, consisting of the inhabitants of a certain district, erected by the sovereign, with a certain jurisdiction.
Boroughs are erected to be held of the sovereign, as is generally the case of royal boroughs; or of the superior of the lands included, as in the case of boroughs of regality and a barony. Royal boroughs are generally erected for the advantage of trade. – Encyc.
Borough English, is a customary descent of lands and tenements to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner leaves no son, to the youngest brother. – Blackstone. Cowel.
Borough-head, the same as head-borough, the chief of a borough. – Ash. | Bor"ough
- 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.
- An association of men who gave pledges or
sureties to the king for the good behavior of each other.
- The collective body of citizens or inhabitants
of a borough; as, the borough voted to lay a tax.
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Borough BOROUGH, noun bur'ro. [Latin parcus, saving.] Originally, a fortified city or town; hence a hill, for hills were selected for places of defense. But in later times, the term city was substituted to denote an episcopal town, in which was the see of a bishop, and that of borough was retained for the rest. At present, the name is given appropriately to such towns and villages as send representatives or burgesses to Parliament. Some boroughs are incorporated, other are not. BOROUGH, noun bur'ro. In Saxon times, a main pledge, or association of men, who were sureties or free pledges to the king for the good behavior of each other, and if any offense was committed in their district, they were bound to have the offender forthcoming. The association of ten men was called a tithing, or decenary; the presiding man was called the tithing man, or head-borough; or in some places, borsholder, borough's elder. This society was called also friburg, free burg, frank pledge. Ten tithings formed a hundred, consisting of that number of sureties, and this denomination is still given to the districts, comprehended in the association. The term seems to have been used both for the society and for each surety. The word main, hand, which is attached to this society, or their mutual assurance, indicates that the agreement was ratified by shaking hands. Some writers have suggested that the application of this word to towns sprung from these associations, and of course was posterior to them in time. But the word was used for a town or castle in other nations, and in Asia, doubtless long before the origin of the frank pledge. In Connecticut, this word, borough is used for a town or a part of a town, or a village, incorporated with certain privileges, distinct from those of other towns and of cities; as the borough of Bridgeport. In Scotland, a borough is a body corporate, consisting of the inhabitants of a certain district, erected by the Sovereign, with a certain jurisdiction. BOROUGHs are erected to be held of the sovereign, as is generally the case of royal boroughs; or of the superior of the lands included, as in the case of boroughs of regality and barony. Royal boroughs are generally erected for the advantage of trade. BOROUGHs English, is a customary descent of lands and tenements to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner leaves no son, to the youngest brother. BOROUGH English, is a customary descent of lands and tenements to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or if the owner leaves no son, to the youngest brother. BOROUGH-head, the same as head-borough, the chief of a borough
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* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
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