County Palatine

[L. Lat. comitatus palatinus.] A county in England distinguished by peculiar privileges; and so called from palatium, (a palace,) because its owner, whether duke or earl, had in such county royal prerogatives, (jura regalia,) as fully as the king had in his palace.

4 Inst. 205, 211, 216.

There were originally three of these, Chester, Durham and Lancaster, but they are all now in the hands of the crown. Id. ibid.

1 Bl. Com. 116—119. 1 Steph. Com. 120, 121. Sewell's Law of Sheriff, 1. 1 Crabb's Real Prop. 489, § 630.