burgrave

bur·grave
B3U1R1G2R1A1V4E1
UK/ˈbɜːɡɹeɪv/US/ˈbɜɹɡɹeɪv/

noun

The military governor of a town or castle in the Middle Ages, especially in German-speaking Europe; a nobleman of the same status.

OriginGerman Burggraf →
Scrabble 14
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Meanings

nounburgrave (plural burgraves)

plural burgraves · alternative burggraf · alternative burggrave · alternative burgraf

  1. historicalThe military governor of a town or castle in the Middle Ages, especially in German-speaking Europe; a nobleman of the same status.
  2. One who holds a hereditary title, with an associated domain, descended from an ancestor who commanded a burg, especially in German-speaking Europe.

Origin

  1. GermanBurggraf
  2. Englishburgrave

From German Burggraf, from Burg (“castle”) + Graf (“count”). Compare Dutch burggraaf, French burgrave. See margrave.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan burggravi, burggravi
  • burggravigovernor
  • burggravione who holds a hereditary title
Czech purkrabí, purkrabí
  • purkrabígovernor
  • purkrabíone who holds a hereditary title
Dutch burchtgraaf
  • burchtgraafgovernor
French burgrave, burgrave
  • burgravegovernor
  • burgraveone who holds a hereditary title
German Burggraf, Burggraf
  • Burggrafgovernor
  • Burggrafone who holds a hereditary title
Polish burgrabia
  • burgrabiagovernor
Portuguese burgrave
  • burgravegovernor
Slovak purkgróf, hradný gróf
  • purkgrófgovernor
  • hradný grófgovernor
Swedish borggreve
  • borggrevegovernor
Cite this entry
APA

burgrave. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/burgrave

MLA

“burgrave.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/burgrave. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “burgrave,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/burgrave.

Source: burgrave on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.