earl

¹

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noun

1. a British nobleman of a rank below that of marquis and above that of viscount: called count for a time after the Norman conquest. The wife of an earl is a countess.
2. (in Anglo-Saxon England) a governor of one of the great divisions of England, including East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex.

Earl

²

or Earle

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noun

1. a male given name: from the old English word meaning “noble.”

earl

/ ɜːl /

noun

1. (in the British Isles) a nobleman ranking below a marquess and above a viscount Female equivalentcountess
2. (in Anglo-Saxon England) a royal governor of any of the large divisions of the kingdom, such as Wessex

Word History and Origins

Origin of earl¹

before 900; Middle English erl, Old English eorl; cognate with Old Saxon erl man, Old Norse jarl chieftain

Word History and Origins

Origin of earl¹

Old English eorl; related to Old Norse jarl chieftain, Old Saxon erl man

Example Sentences

Earl McGrath, a cultural gadabout who had first encountered Babitz sharing a bed with the road manager for the Mamas and the Papas, brought her to Didion’s Franklin Avenue home in 1967 for one of her legendary parties.

From Los Angeles Times

"We're testing fans' patience, testing our patience," admitted England number eight Ben Earl.

From BBC

Boos rang around the Allianz Stadium when it looked like Smith was being taken off against the Wallabies - he was actually moved to full-back - and number eight Ben Earl admitted afterwards England were testing the patience of the supporters.

From BBC

They were practically playing with two number eights in Dombrandt and Ben Earl, and a six in Chandler Cunningham-South.

From BBC

So, in 1926, Lady Haig - wife of Field Marshal Earl Haig - decided to open a poppy-making factory in Edinburgh, external which would be staffed by a team of disabled war veterans.

From BBC

Related Words

• aristocrat
• blue blood
• emperor
• patrician