Earl , n. (Zoöl.) The needlefish. [Ireland]
Earl (?), n. [OE.
eorl, erl, AS. eorl man, noble; akin to OS.
erl boy, man, Icel. jarl nobleman, count, and possibly to Gr. &?; male, Zend arshan man. Cf. Jarl.]
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 graf in Germany. Hence the wife of an earl is still called countess. See Count.
Hear it pronounced