shire

[ shahyuhr ]

See synonyms for shire on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

Origin of shire

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

Other words from shire

subshire, noun
un·der·shire, noun

Other definitions for Shire (2 of 3)

Shire

[ shahyuhr ]

noun

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

Origin of Shire

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

Other definitions for Shiré (3 of 3)

Shiré

[ shee-rey ]

noun

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use shire in a sentence

Yes, they left out Tom Bombadil and the Scouring of the shire.
George R.R. Martin's Top 10 Fantasy Films | George R.R. Martin | April 11, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
How long it would be, even in the most favourable chance, before she should again enter the shire-hall!
Ruth | Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
He is once more upon Yorkshire ground; his horse's hoof beats once more the soil of that noble shire.
Rookwood | William Harrison Ainsworth
Stamford, and the tongue of Lincoln's fenny shire, upon which it is situated, were passed almost in a breath.
Rookwood | William Harrison Ainsworth
A quiet, staunch, useful man in shire and church and all the relations of life, and "as good as they make 'em."
Thirty Years in Australia | Ada Cambridge

In 1774 he was chosen knight of the shire for Berkshire, and his conduct in parliament was perfectly independent.
The Book of Curiosities | I. Platts

British Dictionary definitions for shire (1 of 3)

shire¹

/ (ʃaɪə) /

noun

- one of the British counties
- (in combination): Yorkshire
(in Australia) a rural district having its own local council

See shire horse
the Midland counties of England, esp Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, famous for hunting, etc

Origin of shire

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

British Dictionary definitions for shire (2 of 3)

shire²

/ (ʃaɪə) /

verb

(tr) Ulster dialect to refresh or rest: let me get my head shired

Origin of shire

from Old English scīr clear

British Dictionary definitions for Shire (3 of 3)

Shire

Shir

/ (ˈʃɪəreɪ) /

noun

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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