alderman

What it means

1. A member of a municipal legislative body in a city or town.

   1 more example

   Humanity, contemplating the numerous munificent actions of this Corporation, cherishes a hope, that, in the anniversary revolution of the great City Officers, some Alderman or Sheriff may possess the patriotism and courage of effecting substantial good, to the accomplishment of which great mental exertion is requisite.

   1812 January 1, John Coakley Lettsom, “Letter LXXIII. On Prisons.”, in The Gentleman’s Magazine: and Historical Chronicle, volume LXXXII (V, New Series), part I, London: […] Nichols, Son, and Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 34, column 2

2. UKhistoricalobsoleteslangA half-crown coin; its value, 30 pence.

   The price of a case (five shillings piece bad) from the smasher is about one shilling; an alderman (two and sixpence) about sixpence; a peg (shilling) about threepence; a downer or sprat (sixpence) about twopence.

   1859, Snowden's magistrates assistant, page 90

   1 more example

   Half-a-crown is known as an alderman, half a bull, half a tusheroon, and a madza caroon; whilst a crown piece, or five shillings, may be called either a bull, or a caroon, or a cartwheel, or a coachwheel, or a thick-un, or a tusheroon.

   [1859, J. C. Hotten, A Dictionary of Modern Slang, Cant, and Vulgar Words

3. lifestyleA long pipe for smoking.

   In one part of Cockaigne an amalgamation of these two last has lately taken place; and the pleasure experienced by the parishioners of Walbrook is unbounded when smoking an alderman and churchwarden.

   1843, John William Carleton, The Sporting Review, volume 10, page 419

In a sentence

Humanity, contemplating the numerous munificent actions of this Corporation, cherishes a hope, that, in the anniversary revolution of the great City Officers, some Alderman or Sheriff may possess the patriotism and courage of effecting substantial good, to the accomplishment of which great mental exertion is requisite.

1812 January 1, John Coakley Lettsom, “Letter LXXIII. On Prisons.”, in The Gentleman’s Magazine: and Historical Chronicle, volume LXXXII (V, New Series), part I, London: […] Nichols, Son, and Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 34, column 2

Where it comes from

1. Old Englishealdorman
2. Middle Englishalderman
3. Englishalderman

From Middle English alderman, aldermon, from Old English ealdorman, ealdormann, from ealdor (“elder, parent, chief, prince, author”) + mann (“person”). Doublet of ealdorman.