Palatine
PAL'ATINE, adjective [Latin palatinus, from palatium, palace.] Pertaining to a palace; an epithet applied originally to persons holding an office or employment in the king; s palace; hence it imports possessing royal privileges; as a count palatine
In England, formerly, were three counties palatine Chester, Durham and Lancaster; the two former by prescription, the latter by grant of Edward III. They were so called, because the proprietors, the earl of Chester, the bishop of Durham and the duke of Lancaster, possessed royal rights, as fully as the king in his palace. Of these, the county of Durham is the only one now remaining in the hands of a subject.
PAL'ATINE, noun One invested with royal privileges and rights. A palatine or count palatine on the continent of Europe, is one delegated by a prince to hold courts of justice in a province, or one who has a palace and a court of justice in his own house. In Poland, a palatine may be regarded as the governor of a province.