Other forms: aldermen
An alderman is a senior member of a town council. The aldermen of the city, elected alderman, an alderman's robes.
In Britain the office was abolished in 1974 except in the City of London, where it survives with real functions. In America and Ireland it is a live title for a city councillor. The Old English means elder man, and it once meant a chief or a prince.
1nounaldermanA senior member of a town council.
“The alderman stood up at the council meeting to argue against the new car park.”
alderman is an official.
Old English ealdorman means elder man, from ealdor, an elder or chief, plus mann.
Proto-Indo-European
*h₂el- (grow)
Old English
ealdorman
Middle English
alderman
English, today
alderman
Built from
From Middle English alderman, aldermon, from Old English ealdorman, ealdormann, from ealdor (“elder, parent, chief, prince, author”) + mann (“person”). a doublet of ealdorman.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA