shire

noun

ˈshī(-ə)r How to pronounce shire (audio)
 in place-​name compounds  ˌshir,
shər
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

Illustration of shire

Illustration of shire
  • shire 2

Examples of shire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While Bilbo, played by Martin Freeman, is enjoying a quiet life in the shire, the wizard Gandalf, played by Sir Ian McKellen, asks him to join a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim the kingdom of Erebo. — Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 7 Dec. 2022 More recently, his works have also provided a fertile shire for nationalists who see themselves in his heroic archetypes. — Jason Horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shire was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing shire

Rhymes for shire

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Browse Nearby Words

shire
Shire
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Cite this Entry

“Shire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shire. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

shire

noun
ˈshī(ə)r How to pronounce shire (audio)
 in place-​name compounds  ˌshi(ə)r,
shər
1
: a county in England
2
: any of a British breed of tall draft horses

Geographical Definition

Shire

geographical name

Shi·​re ˈshē-(ˌ)rā How to pronounce Shire (audio)
ˈshir-ē
river 250 miles (400 kilometers) long in southern Malawi and central Mozambique flowing from Lake Malawi south into the Zambezi River

More from Merriam-Webster on shire

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shire

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