Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of County?

\Coun"ty\ (koun"t?), n.; pl. {Counties} (-t?z). [F. comt?, fr. LL. comitatus. See {Count}.] 1. An earldom; the domain of a count or earl. [Obs.] 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}. Every county, every town, every family, was in agitation. --Macaulay. 3. A count; an earl or lord. [Obs.] --Shak. {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.