Duke or Earl (5)
I believe the answer is:
title
'duke or earl' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for title that I've seen before include "established claim to ownership" , "Right of ownership" , "Sign of nobility or name of a work" , "Legal document regarding transfer of ownership: appellation" , "Championship -- form of address" .)