shire

¹

[ shahyuhr ]

noun

1. one of the counties of Great Britain.
2. the Shires, the counties in the Midlands in which hunting is especially popular.

Shire

²

[ shahyuhr ]

noun

1. one of an English breed of large, strong draft horses having a usually brown or bay coat with white markings.

Shiré

³

[ shee-rey ]

noun

1. a river in SE Africa, flowing S from Lake Malawi to the Zambezi River. 370 miles (596 km) long.

Shire

¹

/ ˈʃɪəreɪ /

noun

1. a river in E central Africa, flowing from Lake Malawi through Malawi and Mozambique to the Zambezi. Length: 596 km (370 miles)

shire

²

/ ʃaɪə /

noun

1. 1. one of the British counties
   2. ( in combination )

      Yorkshire

2. (in Australia) a rural district having its own local council
3. See shire horse
   See shire horse
4. the Midland counties of England, esp Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, famous for hunting, etc

shire

³

/ ʃaɪə /

verb

1. dialect.
   tr to refresh or rest

   let me get my head shired

Other Words From

• subshire noun
• under·shire noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shire¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English scīr office of administration, jurisdiction of such an office, county

Origin of shire²

1875–80; apparently so called because it was bred in the shires, i.e., those counties of west and central England whose names end in -shire

Word History and Origins

Origin of shire¹

Old English scīr office; related to Old High German scīra business

Origin of shire²

from Old English scīr clear

Example Sentences

It’s a difference not unlike finding yourself out on a near endless steppe, as opposed to being nestled in the shires and villages of a densely packed land.

From Nautilus

Yes, they left out Tom Bombadil and the Scouring of the Shire.

From The Daily Beast

How long it would be, even in the most favourable chance, before she should again enter the shire-hall!

From Project Gutenberg

He is once more upon Yorkshire ground; his horse's hoof beats once more the soil of that noble shire.

From Project Gutenberg

Stamford, and the tongue of Lincoln's fenny shire, upon which it is situated, were passed almost in a breath.

From Project Gutenberg

A quiet, staunch, useful man in shire and church and all the relations of life, and "as good as they make 'em."

From Project Gutenberg

In 1774 he was chosen knight of the shire for Berkshire, and his conduct in parliament was perfectly independent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• country
• district
• field
• land
• locality
• neighborhood
• part
• place
• province
• sector
• suburb
• territory
• world
• zone