Shire (Noun)
Meaning 1
British breed of large heavy draft horse.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The Shire is a British breed of large heavy draft horse known for its impressive size and gentle temperament.
- Shires have been recorded as reaching speeds of up to 5 miles per hour when trotting.
- The ability of the Shire to maintain this comfortable pace made it an ideal breed for hauling heavy carts.
- There were over 1,800 registered Shires in North America in 2020 according to the American Shire Association.
- A typical mature Shire can reach a height of over 19 hands and weigh up to 1,500 pounds or more.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
A former administrative district of England; equivalent to a county.
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The town lies in the shire of Yorkshire, known for its rich history and heritage.
- Under the Local Government Act of 1972, the administrative division was dissolved but the geographic name of the shire remained.
- In medieval England, each shire was governed by a lord-lieutenant and sheriff appointed by the monarch.
- It is a market town within the Lincolnshire shire that once was heavily involved in the wool trade.
- The shire system of governance dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England.