earl

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 jarl.

Unrelated to ealdorman (“alderman”).

• enPR: ûrl
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɜːl/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɝl/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)l
• Homophone: URL

earl (plural earls)

1. (nobility) 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.
2. (entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Tanaecia. Other butterflies in this genus are called counts and viscounts.

• Arel, Elar, Lare, Lear, Rael, Raël, Real, lare, lear, rale, real

Unadapted borrowing from English earl, from Middle English erle, erl, from Old English eorl, from Proto-Germanic *erlaz, from *erōną, *arōną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃er-.

• IPA^(key): /ɛrl/
• Rhymes: -ɛrl
• Syllabification: earl

earl m pers

1. earl (British or Irish nobleman)

• earl in Polish dictionaries at PWN