earl

Everyday

1. A British nobleman of high rank, below a marquess and above a viscount. tree →
2. (history) In early England, a powerful lord who ruled a large area for the king. tree →

In the lessons

Met in history lessons on the Middle Ages, castles and kings, and in stories of the British upper class. An earl's wife is a countess. The ranks from top are: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, baron. Earl is also a man's name.

Examples

• The earl lived in a huge castle. tree →
• Harold was Earl of Wessex before he became king. tree →
• An earl's wife is called a countess. tree →
• The Earl of Sandwich is said to have given the sandwich its name. tree →
• The earl owned all the land around the village. tree →
• Earl is also a first name, as in Earl Grey tea. tree →
• One fine summer's day Earl Mar's daughter went into the castle garden, dancing and tripping along. tree →

Note

Use «an earl» (starts with a vowel sound). Capital E in titles: the Earl of Essex. There is no «earless»: the female equivalent is countess. The word came from Old English «eorl», a warrior or nobleman.