Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PAL'A-TINE, a. [Fr. palatin; It. palatino; from L. 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. – Blackstone.