n. Brit. 1 a county. 2 (the Shires) a a group of English counties with names ending or formerly ending in -shire, extending NE from Hampshire and Devon. b the midland counties of England. c the fox-hunting district of mainly Leicestershire and Northants. 3 Austral. a rural area with its own elected council. shire-horse a heavy powerful type of draught-horse bred chiefly in the midland counties of England.
[ OE scir, OHG scira care, official charge: orig. unkn. ]