Alderman

awl′dėr-man, n. in English and Irish boroughs, a civic dignitary next in rank to the mayor.—They are usually chosen for three years; those of London are chosen for life.—The name was a umed incongruously enough for superior members of the county councils set up in England in 1888: in Anglo-Saxon times, the governor of a shire until by Canute displaced by the earl; thenceforward, any head man of a guild.— adjs. Alderman′ic , Al′derm an like , Al′dermanly , pompous and portly. [A.S. ealdor (from eald , old), senior, chief; ealdorman , ruler, king, chief magistrate.]