County palatine Meaning, Definition & Usage
-
noun the territory of a count palatine
WordNet
Definitions
- a county distingushed 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.