SHIRE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does shire mean? 

• SHIRE (noun)
  The noun SHIRE has 2 senses:

1. a former administrative district of England; equivalent to a county

2. British breed of large heavy draft horse

  Familiarity information: SHIRE used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SHIRE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A former administrative district of England; equivalent to a county

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("shire" is a kind of...):

administrative district; administrative division; territorial division (a district defined for administrative purposes)

Meronyms (parts of "shire"):

county town; shire town (the town or city that is the seat of government for a shire)

Domain region:

Britain; Great Britain; U.K.; UK; United Kingdom; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; 'Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom)

Sense 2

Meaning:

British breed of large heavy draft horse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

shire; shire horse

Hypernyms ("shire" is a kind of...):

draft horse; draught horse; dray horse (horse adapted for drawing heavy loads)

 Context examples 

Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham's removal from the —shire as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could do.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

"Those who want situations advertise; you must advertise in the _—shire Herald_." How? I know nothing about advertising.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

So he lived and so he died, the most revered and the happiest man in all his native shire.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Amid the dark streets and brick houses there was something out of place in their appearance, as when the sea-gulls, driven by stress of weather, are seen in the Midland shires.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Besides, it will not much signify what one wears this summer, after the —shire have left Meryton, and they are going in a fortnight.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

J.E. is requested to send references, name, address, and all particulars to the direction:—Mrs. Fairfax, Thornfield, near Millcote, —shire.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

There I saw statesmen and soldiers, noblemen and lawyers, farmers and squires, with roughs of the East End and yokels of the shires, all toiling along with the prospect of a night of discomfort before them, on the chance of seeing a fight which might, for all that they knew, be decided in a single round.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And when I returned home, the —shire was to leave Meryton in a week or fortnight's time.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

From the well-known names of these towns I learn in what county I have lighted; a north-midland shire, dusk with moorland, ridged with mountain: this I see.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The languid loungers of St. James’s were also the yachtsmen of the Solent, the fine riders of the shires, and the hardy fighters in many a wayside battle and many a morning frolic.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)