noun

burgher

Burgher (noun) means a citizen of a borough or town, especially one belonging to the middle class.

noun

A citizen of a borough or town, especially one belonging to the middle class.

A member of the medieval mercantile class.

A citizen of a medieval city.

A prosperous member of the community; a middle-class citizen (may connote complacency).

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Etymology

From Middle English burger, burgher, burghere, equivalent to burgh + -er (“inhabitant of”). Likely merged with and reinforced by Middle Dutch burgher (Modern Dutch: burger); from Middle High German burger (Modern German: Bürger); from Old High German burgāri (“inhabitant of a fortress”); derivative of burg (“fortress, citadel”), from Proto-West Germanic *burg, from Proto-Germanic *burgz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“fortified elevation”). Compare also Old English burgwaras (“inhabitants of a burg, burghers, citizens”) and Serbo-Croatian purger. More at borough.

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of burgher?

"burgher" (noun) means a citizen of a borough or town, especially one belonging to the middle class.

What are the different meanings of burgher?

"burgher" has 3 main meanings: 1. A citizen of a borough or town, especially one belonging to the middle class; 2. A member of the medieval mercantile class; 3. A citizen of a medieval city.