The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Burgess \Bur"gess\, n. [OE. burgeis, OF. burgeis, fr.
   burcfortified town, town, F. bourg village, fr. LL. burgus
   fort, city; from the German; cf. MHG. burc, G. burg. See 1st
   Borough, and cf. 2d Bourgeois.]
   1. An inhabitant of a borough or walled town, or one who
      possesses a tenement therein; a citizen or freeman of a
      borough. --Blackstone.
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   Note: "A burgess of a borough corresponds with a citizen of a
         city." --Burrill.
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   2. One who represents a borough in Parliament.
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   3. A magistrate of a borough.
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   4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for
      municipal officers.
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   Note: Before the Revolution, the representatives in the
         popular branch of the legislature of Virginia were
         called burgesses; they are now called delegates.
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   Burgess oath. See Burgher, 2.
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