Where does “eorl” come from?
eorl (Middle English) comes from Middle English erle, from Old English eorl, from Proto-Germanic erlaz, from Proto-Germanic erōną, from Proto-Indo-European h₁er- — earth.
eorl (Middle English): Alternative form of erle
Ancestry of “eorl”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | erle | A great noble subordinate to a king or duke; a... |
| 2 | Old English | eorl | Anglo-Saxon of noble rank; a nobleman ranking... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | erlaz | man, nobleman |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | erōną | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁er- | earth |