/ ˈʃaɪə(r); NAmE ; or, in compounds, -ʃə(r)/ noun ( BrE )
1.
[ C ] ( old use ) a county (now used in the names of some counties in Britain, for example Hampshire , Yorkshire )
2.
the Shires , (also the Shire Counties ) [ pl. ] counties in central England that are in country areas
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English scīr care, official charge, county , of Germanic origin.