Adjacent Words

Earl definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EARL, n. erl.
A British title of nobility, or a nobleman, the third in rank, being next below a marquis, and next above a viscount. The title answers to count [compte] in France, and graaf in Germany. The earl formerly had the government of a shire, and was called shireman. After the conquest earls were called counts, and from them shires have taken the name of counties. Earl is now a mere title, unconnected with territorial jurisdiction.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English erl, from Old English eorl warrior, nobleman; akin to Old Norse jarl warrior, nobleman Date: 12th century a member of the British peerage ranking below a marquess and above a viscount • earldom noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a British nobleman ranking between a marquess and a viscount (cf. COUNT(2)). Phrases and idioms: Earl Marshal (in the UK) the officer presiding over the College of Heralds, with ceremonial duties on various royal occasions. Earl Palatine hist. an earl having royal authority within his country or domain. Derivatives: earldom n. Etymology: OE eorl, of unkn. orig.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Needlefish Nee"dle*fish`, n. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The European great pipefich (Siphostoma, or Syngnathus, acus); -- called also earl, and tanglefish. (b) The garfish.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Earl Earl, n. (Zo["o]l.) The needlefish. [Ireland]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Earl Earl, n. [OE. eorl, erl, AS. eorl man, noble; akin to OS. erl boy, man, Icel. jarl nobleman, count, and possibly to Gr. ? male, Zend arshan man. Cf. Jarl.] A nobleman of England ranking below a marquis, and above a viscount. The rank of an earl corresponds to that of a count (comte) in France, and graf in Germany. Hence the wife of an earl is still called countess. See Count.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(earls) An earl is a British nobleman. ...the first Earl of Birkenhead. N-COUNT: oft N of n

Foolish Dictionary

A title of nobility.

Moby Thesaurus

Brahman, archduke, aristocrat, armiger, baron, baronet, blue blood, count, daimio, duke, esquire, gentleman, grand duke, grandee, hidalgo, lace-curtain, laird, landgrave, lord, lordling, magnate, magnifico, margrave, marquis, noble, nobleman, optimate, palsgrave, patrician, peer, seigneur, seignior, silk-stocking, squire, swell, thoroughbred, upper-cruster, viscount, waldgrave