The term 'Noble Sort' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: EARL (4 letters) and SaltoftheEarth (14 letters). An EARL is a British nobleman, ranking above a viscount and below a marquess. The phrase 'Salt of the Earth' is an idiom that refers to people who are humble, honest, and hardworking. Together, these two solutions suggest that a Noble Sort is someone of high social standing who is also humble and hardworking.