Town, n.
n. [A-S. tūn, inclosure, garden, house, village, town, tynan, to inclose, shut, O. Sax., Icel., & L. Ger. tūn, D. tuin, O. H. Ger. zûn, N. H. Ger. zaun.]
Sense 1. An inclosure which surrounded the mere homestead or dwelling of the lord of the manor; and hence, the whole of the land which constituted the domain; a collection of houses inclosed by fences or walls. [Obs.] Palgrave.
Sense 2. Hence, any collection of houses larger than a village, and not incorporated as a city;—often opposed to country.
God made the country, and man made the town. Cowper.
Sense 3. Any number of houses to which belongs a regular market, and which is not a city or the see of a bishop. [Eng.] Johnson.
Sense 4. The body of inhabitants resident in a town; as, the town voted to send two representatives to the legislature, or they voted to lay a tax for repairing the highways. [U. S.]
Sense 5. A township; the whole territory within certain limits, less than those of a county. [Local U. S.]
Sense 6. The court end of London. Pope.
Sense 7. The metropolis or its inhabitants; as, the gentleman lives in town in winter; in summer, he lives in the country. “Always hankering after the diversions of the town.” Addison. “Stuns with his giddy larum half the town.” Pope.
☞ The same form of expression is used in regard to other populous towns.
Sense 8. A farm or farmstead; also, a court or farm-yard. [Scot. and Prov. Eng.]
Synonyms—Village; hamlet. See VILLAGE.