earl

Meaning

1. A British or Irish nobleman next in rank above a viscount and below a marquess; equivalent to a European count. A female using the style is termed a countess.
2. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Tanaecia. Other butterflies in this genus are called counts and viscounts.

Synonyms

count

🔢

nobleman

chief official

uncle

warrior

eldest brother

Translations

Graf

🔢

conde

🔢

comte

🔢

conte

🔢

graaf

conde

🔢

κόμης

comte

🔢

comes

jarl

comte

comde

كُونْت

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɜːl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: erl

Inherited from Old English: eorl

Cognate with Old Saxon: erl

Cognate with Old Norse: jarl

Cognate with Old Norse: jara

In summary

From Middle English erl, erle, from Old English eorl, from Proto-West Germanic *erl, from Proto-Germanic *erlaz (compare Old Saxon erl, Old Norse jarl), from Proto-Germanic *erōną, *arōną (compare Old Norse jara (“fight, battle”)). Doublet of eorl and jarl. Unrelated to ealdorman (“alderman”).