town meeting

a general meeting of the inhabitants of a town.

(especially in New England) a legislative assembly of the qualified voters of a town.

Origin of town meeting

First recorded in 1630–40

These had ripened slowly during August and, by the time of the September town-meeting, were fit for eating.

When Life Was Young |C. A. Stephens
Because in Toronto the old New England town-meeting idea worked to its logical triumph.

The Personality of American Cities |Edward Hungerford
It was what might be called the first town-meeting in America.

My Days and Nights on the Battle-Field |Charles Carleton Coffin
The first thing they did was to summon a sort of town-meeting, to have me narrate the events of my voyage.

My Life in Many States and in Foreign Lands |George Francis Train

Action of the Boston town-meeting and the Massachusetts convention.

The Colonization of North America |Herbert Eugene Bolton

town meeting

an assembly of the inhabitants of a town

(esp in New England) an assembly of the qualified voters of a town. Such a meeting may exercise all the powers of local government