an English county, esp one with a name ending in -shire
(usu the Shires) an English district consisting chiefly of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire
an administrative subdivision; specif an English county, esp one with a name ending in -shire
(usu the Shires) an English rural district consisting chiefly of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire
= shire horse
[Old English scīr office, shire]