GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   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.
   
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2.       
   Earl, n. (Zoöl.) The needlefish. [Ireland]
   
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3.       
   Needlefish (?), n. (Zool.) (a) The European great pipefish (Siphostoma acus or Syngnathus acus); -- called also earl, and tanglefish. (b) The garfish.
   
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