Jarldom

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The region or land governed by a jarl, a Scandinavian nobleman or chief
2. Territory controlled and administered by a jarl, a Viking-era ruler or leader
3. The domain or area of authority held by a jarl in medieval Scandinavia

Etymology: "Jarldom" is a plain compound: "jarl" plus the suffix "-dom." The "jarl" part came into English from Old Norse "jarl," a chieftain or nobleman, and it is the same word that gave English "earl." The Old Norse term descends from Proto-Norse "erilaʀ," which goes back to Proto-Germanic "*erlaz," meaning a man of high rank. The suffix "-dom" comes from Old English "-dōm," which meant a state, condition, or dominion, and it appears in older English words like "kingdom" and "freedom." Attaching it to a title produces the office, rank, or territory that a jarl holds, so "jarldom" is simply "the domain or rank of a jarl."

Synonyms: earldom