hampshire down

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.

noun

1. a breed of stocky sheep having a dark face and dense close wool, originating from Hampshire, S England

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)Abbreviation: Hants

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.