Main Entry: town > Pronunciation: 'taun Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tun enclosure, village, town; akin to Old High German zun enclosure, Old Irish dún fortress Date: before 12th century 1 dialect English : a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place with a place-name : <A HREF="http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=hamlet">HAMLET</A> 2 a : a compactly settled area as distinguished from surrounding rural territory b : a compactly settled area usually larger than a village but smaller than a city c : a large densely populated urban area : <A HREF="http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=city">CITY</A> d : an English village having a periodic fair or market 3 : a neighboring city, capital city, or metropolis 4 : the city or urban life as contrasted with the country 5 : the inhabitants of a city or town 6 : a New England territorial and political unit usually containing under a single town government both rural areas and urban areas not having their own charter of incorporation; also : a New England community governed by a town meeting 7 : a group of prairie dog burrows - town adjective - on the town : in usually carefree pursuit of entertainment or amusement (as city nightlife) especially as a relief from routine

If the meaning is up for a vote, I'll go for this one... [email protected] wrote: > >7 : a group of prairie dog burrows > Otherwise, I'm still trying to figure out how the Creek word talwa became translated as town, since they: (1) moved about hither, thither & yon, but kept the same name (the older location(s) often being referred to by the same name but with Tallassee or Tallahassee added) and (2) they tended to have any number of satelite settlements at considerable distances, which could also presumably move around, but were an integral part of the talwa. That doesn't sound much like a town to me. So, I'm with the prarie dogs... <G> RW