a British title of nobility, next below a marquis, and above a viscount. The title is one of great antiquity, and the word is evidently a corruption of the Norwegian jarl. A certain order of the Saxon nobility was called ealdormen, elder men, a word of the same signification with senior or senator among the Romans; and also schiremen, because they had each of them the civil government of a civil division or shire. On the irruption of the Danes they changed the names to corels, which, according to Camden, had the same signification in their language. In Latin they are called comites, (a title first used in the empire), from being the king's attendants; a societate nomen sumperunt, reges enim tales sibi associant. After the Norman Conquest they were for some time called counts, from the French; but they did not long retain that name themselves, though their shires are thence denominated counties to this day. It is now become a mere title, the holders of which have nothing to do with the government of the county, that being now entirely devolved on the sheriff, the earl-deputy or vicecomes. In writs, commissions, and other formal instruments, the sovereign, when mentioning any peer of the degree of an earl, usually styles him trusty and well-beloved cousin; an appellation as ancient as the reign of Henry IV., who being, either by his wife, his mother, or his sisters, actually related or allied to every earl in the kingdom, artfully and constantly acknowledged that connection in all his letters and other public acts; whence the usage descended to his successors, though the reason has long ago failed.
Earl-Marshal. See Marshal.
Earnest (Abriile), something given to bind a bargain; generally a small sum of money. By the civil law, he who recedes from his bargain loses his earnest; and if the person who received the earnest resiles, he must return the earnest double. But with us, the person who gives it is in strictness obliged to abide by his bargain; and in case he decline it, he is not discharged upon forfeiting his earnest, but may be sued for the whole money stipulated.
Ear-Ring, an ornament worn at the ear; a pendant or jewel suspended by means of a ring or a hook passing through the pendulous lobe of the ear. The use of this kind of ornament dates from the remotest antiquity, since the first mention of ear-rings occurs in the book of Genesis. Ear-rings of certain kinds were anciently, and still are, in the East, instruments or appendages of idolatry and superstition—being regarded as talismans and amulets. Such, probably, were the ear-rings of Jacob's family, which he buried with the strange gods at Bethel. This somewhat barbarous species of adornment was used (as it still is in some countries) by both sexes among many Oriental nations; especially by the Lydians, Persians, Babylonians, Libyans, and Carthaginians, as may be gathered from various ancient authors.
Among the Hebrews and the Egyptians their use appears to have been confined to women; but that they were extensively used by the men of various other nations is sufficiently proved by the Egyptian monuments.
Among the Greeks and Romans ear-rings were worn only by females, and were sometimes of enormous value. It is a curious fact that the ears of the Venus de' Medici, and of some other female statues, are pierced, as if for the purpose of wearing these appendages.
Earth (Sax. cord, corth, yrth), among ancient philosophers, one of the four elements of which the whole system of nature was believed to be composed. In Astronomy and Geography, it denotes one of the primary planets, being the terraqueous globe we inhabit. See Astronomy; Figure of the Earth; Geology; Physical Geography.
Earthenware. See Pottery.