shire
/ˈʃaɪə(r)/noun
1
- Brit. a county, especially in England〈英〉（尤指英格兰的）郡。
1.1
the Shires
used in reference to parts of England regarded as strongholds of traditional rural culture, especially the rural Midlands英格兰中部诸郡。
1.2
- historical an administrative district in medieval times ruled jointly by an alderman and a sheriff〈史〉（在中世纪由郡长和英王指定的名誉郡长共同管理的）行政区。
2
- Austral. a rural area with its own elected council〈澳〉有自选议会的农村行政区。
词源
Old English scīr 'care, official charge, county', of Germanic origin.