count palatine

noun, plural counts palatine.

(formerly, in Germany) a count having jurisdiction in his fief or province.
Also called earl palatine. English History. an earl or other county proprietor who exercised royal prerogatives within his county.

Origin of count palatine

First recorded in 1590–1600

Words nearby count palatine

count of monte cristo, the, count off, count on, count one's chickens before they hatch, count out, count palatine, count to ten, countable, countably additive function, countably compact set, countback

Example sentences from the Web for count palatine

British Dictionary definitions for count palatine

count palatine

noun plural counts palatine history

(in the Holy Roman Empire)
  1. originally an official who administered the king's domains or his justice
  2. later, a count who exercised royal authority in his own domains
(in England and Ireland) an earl or other lord of a county palatine
(in the late Roman Empire) a palace official who exercised judicial authority