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.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: "A burgess of a borough corresponds with a citizen of a
         city." --Burrill.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. One who represents a borough in Parliament.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A magistrate of a borough.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for
      municipal officers.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: Before the Revolution, the representatives in the
         popular branch of the legislature of Virginia were
         called burgesses; they are now called delegates.
         [1913 Webster]

   Burgess oath. See Burgher, 2.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Burgess
    n 1: English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993) [syn:
         Burgess, Anthony Burgess]
    2: a citizen of an English borough [syn: burgess, burgher]