earl
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earl¹
- /ɜːl/ UK
- /ɝl/ US
- /ɛrl/ Early Modern
- /ɛːrl/ Early Modern, rare
Sounds like URL · Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)l
Where it comes from
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”).
noun earls
- 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.
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Tanaecia. Other butterflies in this genus are called counts and viscounts.
Earl²
- /ɜːl/ UK
- /ɝl/ US
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)l
Where it comes from
From earl (“nobleman”).
noun Earls
- The title of an earl. And therefore the Bishop and clergy of Man were totally powerless to resist the alteration of doctrinal articles and rites of worship which Earls Edward and Henry, between 1521 and 1594, following the edicts of Henry VIII., Edward VI., and Elizabeth, introduced into the Isle of Man.
proper noun
- A male given name from English from the English noun earl. "Of course Gladys and Eleanor, having graced the last generation of heroines and being at present in their social prime, will be passed on to the next generation of shopgirls -" "Displacing Ella and Stella," interrupted Dick. "And Pearl and Jewel,", Gloria added cordially, " and Earl and Elmer and M
- A surname originating as an occupation for service in the household of an earl, or from a nickname. The sheriff’s office released a compilation of bodycam footage Friday from deputies at the scene that shows them handcuffing Earl and pinning him down for more than 20 minutes as he struggles and repeatedly shouts for help.
- A female given name.
- An unincorporated community in Las Animas County, Colorado.
- An unincorporated community in Callaway County, Missouri.
- A town in Cleveland County, North Carolina.
- An unincorporated community in Springbrook, Washburn County, Wisconsin.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: comte, nobleman, lordship, earle, lord, marshal, fairy, tale, count, randy, conte, peer, conde, county, graaf, baron
Translations
Talk about this word "earl." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/earl. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. earl. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/earl "earl." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/earl.Cite this
@misc{earl_2026,
title = {earl},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/earl},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
