Main Entry: shire

Pronunciation: \ˈshī(-ə)r, in place-name compounds ˌshir, shər\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scīr office, shire; akin to Old High German scīra care

Date: before 12th century

1 : an administrative subdivision; especially : a county in England
2 : any of an old breed of large heavy draft horses of British origin having heavily feathered legs

[shire illustration]