County

[Fr. comté; Lat. comitatus, from comes, a companion, con, and co, to go. Originally, the district or territory of a count or earl.] A circuit or particular portion of a kingdom, state, or territory in which courts of law are held. In the English law, this word signifies the same as SHIRE, q. v.,- county being derived from the French, and shire from the Saxon. The territory of the U. States is generally divided into counties, which, in most of the States, are divided into townships or towns. The parish, in Louisiana, and the district in S. Carolina, correspond to the C. in other States. -An earldom. - A count; an earl; a nobleman. (0.) "The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, The County Paris." - Shaks .