ˈshireman Obs. exc. dial. (in sense 2).
[OE. sc{iacu}rman, sc{iacu}reman: see shire n., and man.]
1. O.E. Law. A sheriff. (Erroneously explained by Lambarde as = ealdorman).
In OE. the word had also the sense of ‘holder of official charge’, ‘bailiff’, ‘steward’ (rendering L. præpositus, etc.).
| c 1020 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 9/29 æðelwine scirman. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent 343 Oure Elders before the conquest, had their trialles for title of land, and other controuersies in each shire, before a Judge, then called Alderman, or Shyreman. |
2. An inhabitant of the ‘shires’ (see shire n. 6).
| a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia II. 296 Aye, I knew he must be a shere-man by his tongue. 1874 Q. Rev. Oct. 494 To this day also, an East Anglian talks, not without a shade of contempt, of an inhabitant of another county as a sheeres man. 1909 A. Morrison Green Ginger 155 [Essex speaker] ‘But a shire man allus was a fool’. |