burgermeester, noun

Forms:
Also burgemeester, and with initial capital.
Origin:
DutchShow more Adaptation of Dutch burgemeester mayor, magistrate, burg town + euphonic -e- + meester master; the form burger- probably resulted from a misconception among English-speakers that the first element of the term was the Dutch word burgher citizen (of a town). Cf. burgher.
1. a. obsolescent. The mayor of a town. b. In historical contexts. A chief magistrate; also used as a title before a surname.
[1731 G. Medley tr. of P. Kolben’s Present State of Cape of G.H. I. 339Three Regent Burgher-Masters, Magistrates at the Cape, chosen annually out of such as are not in the Company’s Service, come in and assist in the Tryal.]
1902 D. Van Warmelo On Commando 35Again I went to Warmbad for some weeks with Mr Burgermeester Potgieter and his family.
1915 D. Fairbridge Torch Bearer 226‘Mynheer burgermeester –’ He turned to the mayor and checked suddenly before the stricken look on Johannes Roux’s face.
1920 R.Y. Stormberg Mrs Pieter de Bruyn 19His talk..is..a rambling catalogue of frightful slander against..the Mayor...When last we called, all the burgemeester’s sins were spread out.
2. Special Combinations burgermeester’s chair, also burghermeester’s chair, burgomeester’s chair, burgomaster’s chair: an ornate, round chair with circular arms and back, a caned seat, and six legs.
1960 G.E. Pearse 18th C. Furn. 54Figure 62 shows a wheel chair at Groote Schuur, a type often known as a Burgomaster’s chair. It is circular in plan supported by six curved or cabriole legs...Ball turning occurs in the stretchers or rails which link the legs together, an arrangement resembling the spokes of a wheel, which, no doubt, suggests the name wheel chair...The curved back is supported on four uprights...The seat is caned.
1965 M.G. Atmore Cape Furn. 61Burgomeester or wheel chairs...This unusual type of chair, which was popular in Holland at the end of the 17th Century is difficult to relate to any earlier European style and was probably an Eastern form.
1971 L.G. Green Taste of S.-Easter 49‘Burgomaster chairs’ were made at the Cape; round ‘compass’ chairs with cane seats and six legs banded together.
1981 Garden & Home June 136In one of the lengthy passages is this burgermeester’s chair of Dutch origin and carved from one piece of wood.
1987 G. Viney Col. Houses 180Amongst the curios which survive here are Lobengula’s seal, a burghermeester’s chair (which makes a surprise reappearance in the library of the Queen’s Dolls’ House).
The mayor of a town.
A chief magistrate; also used as a title before a surname.
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17311987