eorl

English

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Old English eorl. Doublet of earl and jarl.

Noun

eorl (plural eorls)

1. (historical) An Anglo-Saxon of noble rank; a nobleman ranking above a thane; alderman.

Anagrams

• Orël, orle, lore, Orle, rôle, role, relo, Roel, Orel

Middle English

Noun

eorl

1. (Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Worcestershire) alternative form of erl

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *erlaz, further origin unknown; cognate with Old Saxon erl, Old High German erl, Old Norse jarl. The use of this term in reference to specific positions and ranks is likely a semantic loan from Old Norse jarl and Old French conte.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e͜orl/, [e͜orˠl]

Noun

eorl m

1. A nobleman; a male belonging to the nobility.
2. A warrior or hero.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:cempa

   • 10th century, Exeter Book Riddle 8‎^[3]:

     Iċ…, eald ǣfensceōp, eorlum bringe blisse in burgum.

     I…, old evening scop, bring bliss in towns for brave men.

3. In senses referring to specific noble ranks or governmental positions:
   1. A Norse under-king; a jarl.
   2. An ealdorman (Anglo-Saxon high nobleman and governmental official).

      Synonym: ealdorman

      Coordinate term: hlǣfdīġe

   3. A count of continental Europe.

Declension

Strong a-stem:

	singular	plural
nominative	eorl	eorlas
accusative	eorl	eorlas
genitive	eorles	eorla
dative	eorle	eorlum

Derived terms

• eorlcund (“noble”)
• eorldōm
• eorlġebyrd (“nobility”)
• eorlsċiepe (“earlship”)

Descendants

• Middle English: erl, erle, ȝierl, eerl, erille, eryl, ȝerle, ȝorle, yerl (Late Middle English), eorl, url (Southern, West Midland)
  • English: earl
  • Middle Scots: erle, erll, ȝerle
    • Scots: yerl, yarl (merged with Old Norse jarl)
  • Yola: earle