earl
oxford
views updated Jun 11 2018earl / ərl/ •
n. a British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
earl
oxford
views updated May 29 2018earl †warrior, nobleman, prince, OE.; equiv. of
count XII. OE.
eorl = OS., OHG.
erl, ON.
jarl (runic
erilaR), of unkn. orig.
Hence
earldom XII.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
