Chapter E to Earles penny of E by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Earl
(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.

Earl
(Earl), n. (Zoöl.) The needlefish. [Ireland]

Earlap
(Ear"lap`) n. The lobe of the ear.

Earldom
(Earl"dom) n. [AS. eorl- dm; eorl man, noble + -dm -dom.]

1. The jurisdiction of an earl; the territorial possessions of an earl.

2. The status, title, or dignity of an earl.

He [Pulteney] shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.

Chesterfield.

Earldorman
(Earl"dor*man) n. Alderman. [Obs.]

Earlduck
(Earl"duck`) n. (Zoöl.) The red-breasted merganser (Merganser serrator).

Earles penny
(Earles" pen`ny) [Cf. Arles, 4th Earnest.] Earnest money. Same as Arles penny. [Obs.]