Also 6–7 bourgomaster. [ad. Du. burgemeester, after Eng. MASTER; see also BURGHER-, BOROUGHMASTER.]
1. The chief magistrate of a Dutch or Flemish town, nearly corresponding to the mayor in England. Often used loosely for any member of the governing body of a foreign municipality. Also for BOROUGH-MASTER, as an official title in certain English boroughs.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse (1842), 69. The beare beeing chiefe burgomaster of all the beastes vnder the lyon.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. i. 84. I am ioyned with … Burgomasters, and great Oneyers, such as can holde in.
a. 1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 157. Euery of the foresayd cities sent one of their burgomasters vnto the towne of Hage in Holland.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4350/1. The … Freeholders, Burgomasters, and other Inhabitants, of the ancient Borough of Cricklade.
1705. Addison, Italy, Switzerl. (1721), 169 (J.). They chuse their Councils and Burgo-masters out of the body of Bourgeois, as in the other governments of Switzerland.
1779. Johnson, Boerhaave, Wks. IV. 356. The only daughter of a burgo-master of Leyden.
1864. Kirk, Chas. Bold, II. IV. i. 220. The Burgomasters were … employed in strengthening the defences.
2. A species of gull (Larus glaucus).
1678. Ray, Willughby’s Ornith., 349. The Great grey Gull … called at Amsterdam the Burgomaster of Groenland.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Burgomaster of Greenland … a whimsical name given by the Dutch sailors to a species of … sea gull.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xvi. (1856), 124. The birds, too, were back with us … the Ivory gull, the Burgomaster, and the tern.
1883. A. Leslie, trans. Nordenskiöld’s Voy. Vega, 43. The burgomaster is common everywhere along the coasts of Novaya Zemlya and Spitzbergen.
