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Webster 1913 Edition
Earl
Earl
,Noun.
[OE.
eorl
, erl
, AS. eorl
man, noble; akin to OS. erl
boy, man, Icel. jarl
nobleman, count, and possibly to Gr. [GREEK] 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
. Earl
,Noun.
(Zoöl.)
The needlefish.
[Ireland]
Webster 1828 Edition
Earl
EARL
,Noun.
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.