mayor
nounUK /ˈmɛə̯/ · US /ˈmeɪ̯.ɚ/
Etymology 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). Displaced Old English burgealdor (“a ruler of a city, mayor, citizen”), burhġerēfa (“boroughreeve”), and portġerēfa (“portreeve”).
7 senses
- 1The chief executive of the municipal government of a…
- 2Ellipsis of mayor of the palace, the royal stewards of…
- 3Synonym of mair, various former officials in the Kingdom…
- 4A member of a city council.
- 5A high justice, an important judge.
- 6A largely ceremonial position in some municipal…
- 7A local VIP, a muckamuck or big shot reckoned to lead…
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.1907 Sept. 12, The Nation, page 222:
- When the burdens of the Presidency seem unusually heavy, I always remind myself that it could be worse—I could be a mayor of a city instead.1966 Mar. 31, Lyndon B. Johnson, Remarks before the National Legislative Conference of the National League of Cities:
3 more examples
- While Buckley would later privately describe Chicago's Mayor Daley as a Fascist, he was not willing to let Vidal use the police to vindicate the demonstrators, who, in Buckley's mind, had provoked much of the violence.1988, John B. Judis, William F. Buckley Jr.: Patron Saint of the Conservatives, page p. 291:
- Quimby: I propose that I use what's left of the town treasury to move to a more prosperous town and run for mayor and once selected I will send for the rest of you. All: Boo!1993 Dec. 16, Bill Oakley et al., “"$pringfield"”, in The Simpsons, season 5, episode 10:
- Carver: What the hell d'you say to him? Hauk: I said "Mr Mayor that's a good strong dick you've got there and I see you know how to use it." I didn't say shit!2006, Ed Burns et al., “"Soft Eyes"”, in The Wire, season 4, episode 2:
Abbreviation, Ellipsis, Historical Ellipsis of mayor of the palace, the royal stewards of the Frankish Empire.
Historical Synonym of mair, various former officials in the Kingdom of Scotland.
Historical, Obsolete A high justice, an important judge.
US A largely ceremonial position in some municipal governments that presides over the city council while a contracted city manager holds actual executive power.
Figuratively, Humorous 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’.1902 May 22, Westminster Gazette, p. 2
- The Mayor of Castro Street, that was Harvey's unofficial title.1982, Randy Shilts, The Mayor of Castro Street
- Synonyms
- mayoress, burgomaster, boroughmaster, boroughreeve, portreeve, provost, Lord Provost, praetor
- Derived terms
- lady mayor, lord mayor, mayoral, mayoralty, mayor-choosing, mayor-corn, mayor-council, mayordom, mayoress, mayorhood, mayorial, mayorlet, mayorly, mayor-making, mayor's banquet, mayor's court, mayor's feast, mayorsfeud, mayorship, mayor's peer, mayor-town, mayory, supermayor, weak mayor
- Hyponyms
- lord mayor, Lord Mayor, mayoress, lady mayor, Lady Mayor