01 n. A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but someti…
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1.
A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but sometimes limited to a smaller district; as, Wiltshire, Yorkshire, Richmondshire, Hallamshire.“An indefinite number of these hundreds make up a county or shire.” — Blackstone.
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2.
A division of a State, embracing several contiguous townships; a county.[U. S.]“The Tyne, Tees, Humber, Wash, Yare, Stour, and Thames separate the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, etc.” — Encyc. Brit.
Phrases & compounds
Knight of the shire —
See under Knight.
Shire clerk —
an officer of a county court; also, an under sheriff.
Shire mote —
the county court; sheriff's turn, or court.
Shire reeve —
the reeve, or bailiff, of a shire; a sheriff.
Shire town —
the capital town of a county; a county town.
Shire wick —
a county; a shire.