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}.
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Every county, every town, every family, was in
agitation. --Macaulay.
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3. A count; an earl or lord. [Obs.] --Shak.
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{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]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
county
n 1: (United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division
for the purpose of local government; "the county has a
population of 12,345 people"
2: (United States) the largest administrative district within a
state; "the county plans to build a new road"
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