alderman

(ôl′dər mən)

noun pl. aldermen

in some U.S. cities, a member of the municipal council, usually representing a certain district or ward
in England and Wales before 1974, a senior member of a local council
Anglo-Saxon History the chief officer in a shire; ealdorman

Origin: ME < OE ealdorman, chief, prince < eald, old + man, man

Related Forms:

See alderman in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun Abbr. Ald.

A member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions.
A member of the higher branch of the municipal or borough council in England and Ireland before 1974.
a. A noble of high rank or authority in Anglo-Saxon England.
b. The chief officer of a shire in Anglo-Saxon England.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, a person of high rank

Origin: , from Old English ealdorman

Origin: : ealdor, elder, chief (from eald, old; see al-² in Indo-European roots)

Origin: + man, man; see man

Related Forms: