Plural of burgh; Scottish towns that had special royal charters giving them trading rights and self-government.
From Old English 'byrig', plural of 'burg' (fortified town). Used specifically in Scotland for chartered towns with unique legal status.
Scotland's burghs were so proud of their independence that they jealously guarded their monopolies—you couldn't sell certain goods outside the burgh, making them economic powerhouses.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.