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Definition of earlship

earlship

/ˈɜːl.ʃɪp/
earl · ship
Plural:earlships
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earlship Lexical Profile

earlship Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The rank, office, title, or dignity of an earl.

Example

"Upon the death of his elder brother, he unexpectedly inherited the family estates and the ancient earlship."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for earlship

Word Nuance & Usage

In modern usage, 'earldom' is the standard term for both the rank and the territory of an earl, whereas 'earlship' is much rarer and refers almost exclusively to the office or status.

• Nearby Words

earless lizard
earliness
earlobe
earlship
early
earmark
earmuff

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English erlship, formed from 'earl' (from Old English eorl, meaning 'nobleman' or 'warrior') + the native suffix '-ship' denoting status or office.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Earlship. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/earlship
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