ˈbərgər; ˈbə̄gə(r, ˈbəig- noun
( -s )
Etymology: German bürger & Dutch burger; German bürger from Middle High German burgære, burger freeman of a borough, from Old High German burgāri inhabitant of a town or city, from burg fortified place, city; Dutch burger from Middle Dutch burgher freeman of a borough, from Middle High German burgære, burger
1.
a. : a resident of a town : townsman
b. : a member of the middle class : a prosperous solid citizen
shock the Boston burghers out of their staid decorum — Van Wyck Brooks
2. usually capitalized : a member of the party in the Scottish Secession Church that held it permissible for members to take an oath requiring acceptance of the authorized religion of the realm
3.
a. usually capitalized : a Ceylonese of mixed blood ; specifically : one of Dutch descent
b.
[Afrikaans burger, from Dutch]
: a citizen of the former Dutch republics of So. Africa