earldom

[ url-duh m ]

/ ˈɜrl dəm /

noun

Also called earlship. the rank or title of an earl.

the territory or jurisdiction of an earl.

Words nearby earldom

earl, earl grey, earl marshal, earl palatine, earlap, earldom, earless lizard, earless seal, earlier han, earlobe, earlock

Origin of earldom

before 1150; Middle English erldom, Old English eorldōm. See earl, -dom,

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for earldom

Here stands an English Earl, who will defend his earldom and the lands of his King.
A Book of Golden Deeds|Charlotte M. Yonge
The point was not made quite clear, but I gathered that Conroy could have any kind of title that he liked, up to an earldom.
The Red Hand of Ulster|George A. Birmingham
He was styled Viscount Royston from 1754 till 1764, when he succeeded to the earldom.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8|Various
While still very young (before 1045) he was appointed to the earldom of the East-Angles.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 1|Various

Besides, it was asked, why was not the Earldom given in the usual way to Con and his heirs male?
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell

British Dictionary definitions for earldom

earldom

/ (ˈɜːldəm) /

noun

the rank, title, or dignity of an earl or countess

the lands of an earl or countess

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012