Counties

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  County \Coun"ty\ (koun"t[y^]), n.; pl. {Counties} (-t[i^]z). [F.
     comt['e], fr. LL. comitatus. See {Count}.]
     1. An earldom; the domain of a count or earl. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A circuit or particular portion of a state or kingdom,


        separated from the rest of the territory, for certain
        purposes in the administration of justice and public
        affairs; -- called also a {shire}. See {Shire}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Every county, every town, every family, was in
              agitation.                            --Macaulay.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A count; an earl or lord. [Obs.] --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {County commissioners}. See {Commissioner}.
  
     {County corporate}, a city or town having the privilege to be
        a county by itself, and to be governed by its own sheriffs
        and other magistrates, irrespective of the officers of the
        county in which it is situated; as London, York, Bristol,
        etc. [Eng.] --Mozley & W.
  
     {County court}, a court whose jurisdiction is limited to
        county.
  
     {County palatine}, a county distinguished by particular
        privileges; -- so called a palatio (from the palace),
        because the owner had originally royal powers, or the same
        powers, in the administration of justice, as the king had
        in his palace; but these powers are now abridged. The
        counties palatine, in England, are Lancaster, Chester, and
        Durham.
  
     {County rates}, rates levied upon the county, and collected
        by the boards of guardians, for the purpose of defraying
        the expenses to which counties are liable, such as
        repairing bridges, jails, etc. [Eng.]
  
     {County seat}, a county town. [U.S.]
  
     {County sessions}, the general quarter sessions of the peace
        for each county, held four times a year. [Eng.]
  
     {County town}, the town of a county, where the county
        business is transacted; a shire town.
        [1913 Webster]