n [ pl ]
a traditional name for the counties in the English Midlands which have names ending in -shire (= an old word for county). Originally they were called this by people from southern counties which did not have -shire in their names. In modern times the shires refer mainly to counties famous for hunting , especially Northamptonshire and Leicestershire , where people have been using dogs to hunt foxes since the 17th century. Many British people think of the shires as country areas where people have old-fashioned attitudes:
Gay MPs may win votes in London but they wouldn’t stand a chance in the shires.