Hampshire

[hamp-sheer, -sher] /ˈhæmp ʃɪər, -ʃər/

noun
1.
Also called Hants. a county in S England. 1460 sq. mi. (3780 sq. km).
2.
Also called Hampshire Down. one of an English breed of sheep having a dark face, ears, and legs, noted for the rapid growth of its lambs.
3.
one of an English breed of black hogs having a broad band of white over the shoulders and front legs.
/ˈhæmpˌʃɪə; -ʃə/
noun
1.
a county of S England, on the English Channel: crossed by the Hampshire Downs and the South Downs, with the New Forest in the southwest and many prehistoric and Roman remains: the geographical and ceremonial county includes Portsmouth and Southampton, which became independent unitary authorities in 1997. Administrative centre: Winchester. Pop (excluding unitary authorities): 1 251 000 (2003 est). Area (excluding unitary authorities): 3679 sq km (1420 sq miles) Hants
/ˈhæmpʃə/
noun
1.
Sir Stuart. 1914–2004, British philosopher: his publications include Thought and Action (1959), Two Theories of Morality (1977), and Innocence and Experience (1989)

reduced from Old English Hamtunscir; named for the city of Southampton, which originally was simply Hamtun. Norman scribes mangled the county name to Hauntunescire, later Hantescire, hence the abbrev. Hants.