county palatine

American  

noun

counties palatine plural

1. the territory under the jurisdiction of a count palatine.

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county palatine British  

noun

1. the lands of a count palatine

2. (in England and Ireland) a county in which the earl or other lord exercised many royal powers, esp judicial authority

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Etymology

Origin of county palatine

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Situated amid the wild and high moorlands, at whose feet hath stood for ages the royal and ducal capital of the county palatine of Lancaster, once rose a strong border defence called Raven Castle.

From Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 by Roby, John

Till the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Henry VIII. the royal franchise of Ely, in several statutes, was recognised as the county palatine of Ely.

From Cathedral Cities of England by Gilbert, George

In the reign of Henry VIII. the distinctive privileges of Cheshire as a county palatine were considerably abridged.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

Truly, the county palatine was in sad case, according to Master Potts's account.

From Discovery of Witches The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster by Potts, Thomas, fl. 1612-1618

Preston is a market-town, borough, and parish; situated on the river Ribble, in the hundred of Amounderness, county palatine of Lancaster.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 17, No. 470, January 8, 1831 by Various