mayor

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The chief executive of the municipal government of a city, borough, etc., formerly (historical) usually appointed as a caretaker by European royal courts but now usually appointed or elected locally.

   The office of mayor has been the tomb of many political ambitions.

2. 2
   noun

   A local VIP, a muckamuck or big shot reckoned to lead some local group.

   In some parts the burlesque civic official was designated ‘Mayor of the Pig Market’.

3. 3
   noun

   the head of a city government

4. 4
   noun

   Ellipsis of mayor of the palace, the royal stewards of the Frankish Empire.

5. 5
   noun

   Synonym of mair, various former officials in the Kingdom of Scotland.

6. 6
   noun

   A member of a city council.

7. 7
   noun

   A high justice, an important judge.

8. 8
   noun

   A largely ceremonial position in some municipal governments that presides over the city council while a contracted city manager holds actual executive power.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s Proto-Indo-European *-yōs Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂yōs Proto-Italic *magjōs Latin maior Old French mairebor. Middle English maire English mayor From Middle English maire, from Old French maire (“head of a city or town government”), a substantivation of Old French maire (“greater”), from Latin maior (“bigger, greater, superior”), comparative of magnus (“big, great”). Doublet of major. Cognate with Old High German meior (“estate manager, steward, bailiff”) (modern German Meier), Middle Dutch meier (“administrator, steward, bailiff”) (modern Dutch meier…