Earl, n.

(ērl, 14), n. [A-S. eorl, man, noble, O. Sax. erl, boy, man, Icel. & Sw. jarl, nobleman, count. Cf. Icel. erla, to be at liberty for constant labor, erlingr, laborious. Formerly, this title among the Danes was equivalent to the English alderman. Spelman.] 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 graaf in Germany.