Chapter Shiness to Shire of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

the composite word is sometimes the only name of a county; as, Berkshire county, as it is called in Massachusetts, instead of Berks county, as in Pensylvania.

The Tyne, Tees, Humber, Wash, Yare, Stour, and Thames separate the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, etc.

Encyc. Brit.

Knight of the shire. See under Knight. — Shire clerk, an officer of a county court; also, an under sheriff. [Eng.] — Shire mote (Old. Eng. Law), the county court; sheriff's turn, or court. [Obs.] Cowell. Blackstone. — Shire reeve (Old Eng. Law), the reeve, or bailiff, of a shire; a sheriff. Burrill. — Shire town, the capital town of a county; a county town. — Shire wick, a county; a shire. [Obs.] Holland.