Earl
/ɜːrl/noun
A British nobleman ranking above a viscount and below a marquess.
Did you know?The term 'Earl' originates from the Old English 'eorl', which was used for a leader or chief, linking it to ancient warrior cultures.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*erƀaz
“A chief, leader, or warrior.”
Old English
Old English
eorl
“A nobleman or chief, often a military leader.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
jarl
“A noble or chieftain, especially in Scandinavia.”
Middle English
Middle English
earl
“A title of nobility, adopted from Old Norse into English.”
Modern English
English
earl
“A hereditary title of nobility in the British peerage.”