Boroughs
/ˈbʌr.oʊz/noun
Plural of borough: an autonomous town, administrative district, or incorporated municipality.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Proto-Germanic *burgz, the same ancient root behind *burg* and *burgs* in many place names, all tied to the idea of a fortified refuge rather than a casual neighborhood.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰerǵʰ-
“to rise, high place, fortification”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*burgz
“fortified place, stronghold”
Old English
OE
burh, burg
“fortified town, castle, stronghold”
Middle English
ME
borgh, borough
“fortified town, town with legal privileges”
Modern English
English
borough
“an incorporated town or district”
Modern English
English
boroughs
“plural of borough”