A British nobleman ranking below an earl and above a baron in the social hierarchy.
From Old French 'visconte,' combining 'vis-' (meaning 'vice' or 'deputy') and 'comte' (meaning 'count'). A viscount was originally a deputy count in medieval France, and the title was adopted into the English peerage system.
The 'vis-' prefix literally means 'in place of,' so a viscount was originally 'in place of a count'—it's a title that announces its own purpose right in its name, which is why many medieval titles are like hidden job descriptions.
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