The office, rank, or title of earl; the period in which an earl holds his title. Also used with possessive adjective as an honorific title (as "your earlship", etc.). Now rare.
Origin
Old English (in an earlier sense). From earl + -ship.
Definition of earlship in US English:
earlship
nounˈəːlʃɪp
The office, rank, or title of earl; the period in which an earl holds his title. Also used with possessive adjective as an honorific title (as "your earlship", etc.). Now rare.
Origin
Old English (in an earlier sense). From earl + -ship.