Burroughs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family name of several American writers, most famously the Beat novelist William S. Burroughs ; an old spelling of boroughs, meaning self-governing towns or districts
2. A surname shared by notable American authors such as William S. Burroughs ; an archaic variant spelling of the plural of borough, referring to incorporated towns
3. The name of a well-known American literary family, especially the Beat author William S. Burroughs ; a dated alternative spelling for plural boroughs, or urban districts

Etymology: Old English "burh" meant a fortified place, a walled stronghold or settlement, from the verb "beorgan", to shelter or protect. Its German cousin "Burg" still means castle, which is why "Hamburg" and "Edinburgh" share the same element. The spelling "burroughs" is an old form of the plural of "borough", the protected settlement that grew into a town with its own legal rights. Medieval records use the spelling freely, and it survived mainly in place names and family names, so it is best understood as a variant spelling rather than a separate word. As a surname, it probably descends from the same root, likely meaning someone who lived in or by a borough. It is borne by writers including Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan, and William S. Burroughs.