Ealdorman, among the Saxons, was of like import with earl among the Danes.

The word was also used for an elder, senator, or statesman. Hence, at this day, we call those aldermen who are associates to the chief officer in the common council of a city or corporate town.

Ear. See Anatomy Index.

Several naturalists and physicians have held, that cutting off the ear rendered persons barren and unprolific; and this idle notion was what first occasioned the legislators to order the ears of thieves, &c. to be cut off, lest they should produce their like.

The ear has its beauties, which a good painter ought by no means to disregard; where it is well formed, it would be an injury to the head to be hidden. Suetonius insists, particularly, on the beauties of Augustus's ears; and Ælian, describing the beauties of Aspasia, observes, she had short ears. Martial also ranks large ears among the number of deformities.

Among the Athenians, it was a mark of nobility to have the ears bored or perforated. And among the Hebrews and Romans, this was a mark of servitude.

Loss of one ear is a punishment enacted by 3 and 6 Edw. VI. cap. 4, for fighting in a churchyard; and by 2 and 3 Edw. VI. cap. 15, for combinations to raise the price of provisions, labour, &c. if it be the third offence, beside pillory, and perpetual infamy, or a fine of 40l.

By a statute of Henry VIII. maliciously cutting off the ear of a person is made a trespass, for which treble damages shall be recovered; and the offender is to pay a fine of ten pounds to the king, 37 Hen. VIII. cap. 6. § 4. In the Index to the Statutes at Large, it is said, that this offence may be punished as felony, by 22 and 23 Car. II. cap. 1. § 7. commonly called Coventry's act; but ear is not mentioned in that statute.

Ear of Fishes. See Anatomy Index.