Definition of zemstvo in US English:
zemstvo
nounPlural zemstvosˈzemstvōˈzemstvō
One of a system of elected councils established in tsarist Russia to administer local affairs after the abolition of serfdom.
Example sentencesExamples
- Elected by the local zemstvo, the justice of the peace dealt with small cases where the parties desired a quick, comprehensible, inexpensive, and on-the-spot decision.
- Under a further Statute of 1 January 1864, zemstvos or local government assemblies were elected at district and province level, essentially by the landed gentry.
Origin
Russian, from zemlya 'land'.