Coun'ty, n.

n. [Fr. comté, Pr. comtat, contat, It. contado, contéa, Sp. & Pg. condado, L. Lat. comitatus. See COUNT.]

1. An earldom; the district or territory 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;—called also a shire. See SHIRE.
3. A count; an earl or lord. [Obs.] Shak.

County corporate, a county invested with particular privileges by charter or royal grant, as London, York, Bristol, &c.—County court, a court whose jurisdiction is limited to a 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. [Eng.]—County seat, a county town. [U. S.]—County town, the chief town of a county, where the county business is transacted; a shire town.