■ noun ( plural aldermen )
1》 chiefly historical a co-opted member of an English county or borough council, next in status to the Mayor.
2》 (also alderwoman ) N. Amer. & Austral. an elected member of a city council.
Derivatives
~ic adjective
~ship noun
Origin
OE aldormann (in the sense 'a man of high rank'), from aldor , ealdor 'chief, patriarch' (from ald 'old') + man .