earl
SayURLUS/ɝl//ɜːl/
Pluralearls
- 1A British or Irish nobleman of high rank, like a count in other European countries.
The earl lived in a huge old house in the country.
The king gave the brave soldier a new title, and he became an earl.
Note
- 2A kind of butterfly from a group whose other members are called counts and viscounts.
An earl fluttered down and landed on my hand during our forest walk.
The children counted three earls among the butterflies in the garden.
Note
Practice
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Origin
From the Old English word eorl. It is related to the Old Norse word jarl.