knight of the shire

knight of the shire
noun (plural knights of the shire)
Etymology: Middle English
1. : a knight selected by the freeholders to represent a shire in the House of Commons especially in medieval times

the knight of the shire was the connecting link between the baron and the shopkeeper — T.B.Macaulay

2. : a parliamentary representative from a shire or county as distinguished from a representative of a city or a borough

the number of knights of the shire was increased to 159 — T.E.May

* * *

knight of the shire noun
A member of parliament for a county district
• • •
Main Entry:knight

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • Knight of the shire — Shire Shire, n. [AS. sc[=i]re, sc[=i]r, a division, province, county. Cf. {Sheriff}.] 1. A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but sometimes limited to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Knight of the shire — Knight Knight, n. [OE. knight, cniht, knight, soldier, AS. cniht, cneoht, a boy, youth, attendant, military follower; akin to D. & G. knecht servant; perh. akin to E. kin.] 1. A young servant or follower; a military attendant. [Obs.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Knight of the shire — One of the two knights of a shire or *county elected to be its representative in parliament. Their election was overseen by the *sheriff in the county court, in response to the king s summons. Cf. Mainpernor …   Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases

  • Knight of the post — Knight Knight, n. [OE. knight, cniht, knight, soldier, AS. cniht, cneoht, a boy, youth, attendant, military follower; akin to D. & G. knecht servant; perh. akin to E. kin.] 1. A young servant or follower; a military attendant. [Obs.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shire — Shire, n. [AS. sc[=i]re, sc[=i]r, a division, province, county. Cf. {Sheriff}.] 1. A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but sometimes limited to a smaller …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shire clerk — Shire Shire, n. [AS. sc[=i]re, sc[=i]r, a division, province, county. Cf. {Sheriff}.] 1. A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but sometimes limited to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shire mote — Shire Shire, n. [AS. sc[=i]re, sc[=i]r, a division, province, county. Cf. {Sheriff}.] 1. A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but sometimes limited to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shire reeve — Shire Shire, n. [AS. sc[=i]re, sc[=i]r, a division, province, county. Cf. {Sheriff}.] 1. A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but sometimes limited to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shire town — Shire Shire, n. [AS. sc[=i]re, sc[=i]r, a division, province, county. Cf. {Sheriff}.] 1. A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but sometimes limited to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shire wick — Shire Shire, n. [AS. sc[=i]re, sc[=i]r, a division, province, county. Cf. {Sheriff}.] 1. A portion of Great Britain originally under the supervision of an earl; a territorial division, usually identical with a county, but sometimes limited to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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