Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Earl \Earl\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
   The needlefish. [Ireland]

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}.

Source : WordNet®

Earl
     n : a British peer ranking below a Marquess and above a Viscount