SHIRE (Anglo-Saxon Scyrān to divide, whence also to shear, shears, sheer, shore, shirt, skirt, &c.), a territorial division, cut off or divided from the surrounding country. As ordinarily applied now-a-days, it is synonymous with COUNTY (which see); but certain districts in England still preserve traces of the original meaning of the word. For example, Richmondshire, in the North Riding of Yorkshire; and Hallamshire, which is nearly co-extensive with the parish of Sheffield.