a title of foreign nobility, which answers to that of earl among us. Counts palatine were formerly such as had an office in the king's palace, as appears by their titles; but counts palatine in England were such as had regal power within their own jurisdiction. Counts were originally lords of the court, or of the emperor's retinue; and had their name comites, a comitando.

In the courts of the Roman emperors, from Augustus downwards, there were certain counsellors who attended the emperor both at home and abroad, to assist him with their advice upon all occasions. These counsellors were styled comites augustales, or comites augusti, "companions of the emperor," from their constant attendance on his person. They were divided into three orders or degrees, and those of each order had certain privileges and appointments while they attended the imperial court. As these comites or companions had frequent access to the emperors, they often stood high in their favour; and obtained from them the government of provinces, towns, forts, and castles, and other offices of profit and honour. When they left the Imperial court, in order to take upon them their respective governments, they then changed their general title of comites augustales, for one taken from the particular government to which they were appointed. Such were the counts of Britain, and of the Saxon shire in Britain.

Count-Wheel, in the striking part of a clock, a wheel which moves round once in 12 or 24 hours. It is sometimes called the locking-wheel.