EARL
Earl, n. Etym: [OE. eorl, erl, AS. eorl man, noble; akin to OS. erl
boy, man, Icel. jarl nobleman, count, and possibly to Gr. arshan man.
Cf. Jarl.]
Defn: 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
Earl, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The needlefish. [Ireland]
EARLAP
Ear"lap`, n.
Defn: The lobe of the ear.
EARLDOM
Earl"dom, n. Etym: [AS. eorl-d; eorl man, noble + -d -dom.]
1. The jurisdiction of an earl; the territorial possessions of an earl.
2. The status, title, or dignity of an earl. He [Pulteney] shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom. Chesterfield.
EARLDORMAN
Earl"dor*man, n.