burgrave

noun

bur·​grave

ˈbərˌgrāv

plural -s

often capitalized

1

: the military governor of a German city in the 12th and 13th centuries

2

: a noble ruling by hereditary right a German castle or town and its adjacent lands compare landgrave, margrave

Word History

Etymology

modification of German burggraf, from Middle High German burcgrāve, from burc fortress, town (from Old High German burg fortified place) + grāve count, from Old High German grāvo, grāvio count, overseer; akin to Old Frisian grēva overseer, Middle Dutch grave, greve, Middle Low German grēve, and perhaps to Gothic gagrefts decree

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