Definition of EARL

earl

Plural: earls

Noun

  • A British nobleman ranking below a marquis.
  • a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
  • 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.
  • Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Tanaecia. Other butterflies in this genus are called counts and viscounts.

Examples

  • The rare ’L’ tile allowed her to score big with EARL, proving its nobility on the board.

Origin / Etymology

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 eorl and jarl. Unrelated to ealdorman (“alderman”).

Scrabble Score: 4

earl: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
earl: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
earl: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 5

earl: valid Words With Friends Word