[F. échevin, OF. eschevin = It. schiavino:—med.L. scabinus; of Teut. origin; cf. OLG. scepeno (Schade), OHG. sceffeno, sceffen (Ger. schöffe(n, schöppen).] A municipal functionary in French and Belgian towns, corresponding nearly to an English alderman.
1766. Smollett, Trav. (1797), 17. The civil magistracy of Boulogne consists of a mayor and echevins.
1881. Edin. Rev., Jan., 81. A highly connected echevin or alderman of Ghent.
