burgh
Americannoun
-
(in Scotland) an incorporated town having its own charter and some degree of political independence from the surrounding area.
-
Archaic. borough.
noun
-
(in Scotland) a town, esp one incorporated by charter, that enjoyed a degree of self-government until the local-government reorganization of 1975
-
an archaic form of borough
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of burgh
1350–1400; late Middle English (Scots); see borough; cf. broch
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Soon even the humblest burgh in the hinterland could lay claim to a flourishing pizzeria.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
He added: "As Stirling prepares to celebrate its 900th anniversary as a royal burgh in 2024, this is another fascinating chapter in the area's story that attracts visitors from across the world."
From BBC • Oct. 4, 2023
"Some of the remains date back to when Edinburgh became a royal burgh at the start of the 12th century, when St. Giles' was first constructed."
From Fox News • Jan. 14, 2020
As someone who — from his earliest memories — felt like an outsider in every tiny burgh that dotted his landscape, this brand of rootlessness was all I’d ever known.
From Salon • Aug. 9, 2019
Meanwhile a worthy citizen of the little burgh had gone roaming in search of his stray cow.
From Blazing The Way True Stories, Songs and Sketches of Puget Sound by Denny, Emily Inez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
