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What is "burgess oath"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Burgess oath

Burgess \Bur"gess\, n. [OE. burgeis, OF. burgeis, fr. burcfortified town, town, F. bourg village, fr. LL. burgus fort, city; from the German; cf. MHG. burc, G. burg. See 1st Borough, and cf. 2d Bourgeois.]

  1. An inhabitant of a borough or walled town, or one who possesses a tenement therein; a citizen or freeman of a borough.
    --Blackstone.

    Note: ``A burgess of a borough corresponds with a citizen of a city.''
    --Burrill.

  2. One who represents a borough in Parliament.

  3. A magistrate of a borough.

  4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for municipal officers.

    Note: Before the Revolution, the representatives in the popular branch of the legislature of Virginia were called burgesses; they are now called delegates.

    Burgess oath. See Burgher, 2.