Definition of shire
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
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Illustration of shire
Origin and Etymology of shire
Middle English, from Old English scīr office, shire; akin to Old High German scīra care
First Known Use: before 12th century
Other Government and Politics Terms
Shire
playDefinition of Shire
river 250 miles (400 kilometers) long in southern Malawi and central Mozambique flowing from Lake Malawi south into the Zambezi River
SHIRE Defined for English Language Learners
shire
playDefinition of shire for English Language Learners
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: a county in England
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: a type of tall, strong horse used for pulling heavy loads
Learn More about shire
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See words that rhyme with shire Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shire
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