[bor.ough] n [ME burgh, fr. OE burg fortified town; akin to OHG burg fortified place, and prob. to OE beorg hill--more at barrow] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a medieval fortified group of houses forming a town with special duties and privileges b: a town or urban constituency in Great Britain that sends a member to Parliament c: an urban area in Great Britain incorporated for purposes of self-government
2. a: a municipal corporation proper in some states (as New Jersey and Minnesota) corresponding to the incorporated town or village of the other states b: one of the five constituent political divisions of New York City
3: a civil division of the state of Alaska corresponding to a county in most other states