earldom

From Middle English erldom, from Old English eorldōm, equivalent to earl +‎ -dom. Compare English jarldom. Cognate also with Scots eirldome, ȝerledom, erldom (“earldom”).

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈəɹldəm/

• Audio (US):

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earldom (plural earldoms)

1. The rank of being an earl.
   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     And, look when I am king, claim thou of me / The earldom of Hereford, and all the movables / Whereof the king my brother was possess'd.

2. The territory controlled by an earl.

• moraled, amolder, earmold