Shire

Quick meaning: Shire is a noun meaning The people living in a shire (noun sense 1.1) considered collectively.

Meaning

The people living in a shire (noun sense 1.1) considered collectively.

More Meanings

1. The general area in which a person comes from or lives.
2. (by extension) An administrative area or district in other countries.
3. Ellipsis of shire horse (“a draught horse of a tall British breed, usually bay, black, or grey”).
4. A district or province governed by a person; specifically (Christianity), the province of an archbishop, the see of a bishop, etc.
5. A region; also, a country.
6. (transitive) To constitute or reconstitute (a country or region) into one or more shires (noun sense 1.1) or counties.
7. An administrative area or district between about the 5th to the 11th century, subdivided into hundreds or wapentakes and jointly governed by an ealdorman and a sheriff; also, a present-day area corresponding to such a historical district; a county; especially (England), a county having a name ending in -shire.

Example Sentences

Yorkshire is the largest shire in England.

You, my love, are a little paragon—positively a little jewel—You have more brains than half the shire— […]

In August, 1642, the sword was at length drawn; and soon, in almost every shire of the kingdom, two hostile factions appeared in arms against each other.

I thanke his grace he hath appointed him, / Chiefe colonell of all thoſe companies / Muſtred in London, and the ſhires about, / To ſerue his highneſſe in thoſe warres of France: […]

Word Forms

• shires
• shiring
• shired

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include reeve, constituency, precinct, township, parish, moot.

Related Dictionary Tools