burg etymology

Etymology

The word "burg" is derived from the Old English word "burh," which originally meant "fortified place" or "town." It is cognate with the German word "Burg" and the Dutch word "burcht."

Meaning

In modern English, "burg" typically refers to:

• A town or village with a fortified center
• A fortified place, such as a castle or fort
• A borough, or a district with a governing body

Origin

The origin of the word "burh" is uncertain, but it is thought to be related to the Proto-Indo-European root *bherg-, meaning "to protect." This root is also found in the English words "barricade" and "borough."

Historical Usage

In medieval England, "burgs" were important centers of administration and trade. Many of the major cities in England today, such as London and York, originated as Roman or Anglo-Saxon burgs.

The term "burg" is also frequently used in German place names, indicating the presence of a castle or fortified settlement. For example, the cities of Hamburg and Nuremberg were both originally burgs.

burg relate terms

• borough

  Etymology The word borough comes from the Old English word burh which originally me

• villa

  Etymology The word villa originates from the Latin word villa rustica which referre

• barrow

  Etymology Middle English barewe from Old English beorg bearuwe a tumulus a mound

• belfry

  Etymology Old French berfrei berfroit Late Latin belfredus Germanic possibly Dutch

• borough

  Etymology The word borough comes from the Old English word burh which originally me

• bourgeoisie

  Etymology The word bourgeoisie comes from the Old French term bourgeois which origi

• burg

  Etymology The word burg is derived from the Old English word burh which originally m

• burgess

  Etymology From the Old English personal name Burgheard meaning fortress guard or pr

• burgher

  Etymology From Middle Dutch borgher citizen ultimately derived from Old High Germa

• burglar

  Etymology The word burglar is derived from the Middle English word burglere which i

• faubourg

  Etymology and Meaning The word faubourg is derived from the Old French phrase fors le

• iceberg

  Etymology The term iceberg is derived from two Dutch words ijs meaning ice berg

• Pittsburgh

  Etymology The name Pittsburgh is derived from two words Pitt Named after William

• bourgeoisie

  Etymology The word bourgeoisie comes from the Old French term bourgeois which origi

• Limburger

  Etymology The word Limburger has a complex etymological history It is derived from the

• borrow

  Etymology Old English borgian meaning to take or give as security Proto Germanic bu

• London

  Etymology The name London is derived from the Celtic word Londinium which was the n

• bourgeois

  Meaning Bourgeois etymology is the mistaken derivation of a word s origin or meaning It

• stead

  Etymology Old English stede meaning place location spot Proto West Germanic staða

• wont

  Etymology From Middle English wonnen Old English winnan Proto Germanic winnan Pro

• town

  Etymology The word town derives from the Old English word tūn which originally mean

• apprehensive

  Etymology Late Middle English from Latin apprehendere past participle apprehensus