thane

or thegn

[ theyn ]

noun

1. Early English History. a member of any of several aristocratic classes of men ranking between earls and ordinary freemen, and granted lands by the king or by lords for military service.
2. Scottish History. a person, ranking with an earl's son, holding lands of the king; the chief of a clan, who became one of the king's barons.

thane

/ ˈθeɪnɪdʒ; θeɪn /

noun

1. (in Anglo-Saxon England) a member of an aristocratic class, ranking below an ealdorman, whose status was hereditary and who held land from the king or from another nobleman in return for certain services
2. in medieval Scotland
   1. a person of rank, often the chief of a clan, holding land from the king
   2. a lesser noble who was a Crown official holding authority over an area of land

Derived Forms

• thanage, noun

Other Words From

• under·thane noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thane¹

before 900; late Middle English, spelling variant ( Scots ) of Middle English thain, thein, Old English thegn; cognate with Old Norse thegn subject, German Degen warrior, hero, Greek téknon child

Word History and Origins

Origin of thane¹

Old English thegn; related to Old Saxon, Old High German thegan thane

Example Sentences

In August 2001, a politician in Thane, the sprawling city northeast of Mumbai, died in the Singhania hospital there.

From The Daily Beast

Thane Creech, too, has his doubts that President Obama can deliver.

From The Daily Beast

"It shall be seen that I am not ungrateful to the Thane, my master, hereafter--if I may live after seeing this place," he said.

From Project Gutenberg

The hero is a young thane who wins the favor of Earl Harold and becomes one of his retinue.

From Project Gutenberg

It will not probably be offered to any Scotsman, for fear of popular reflections concerning the influence of the Thane.

From Project Gutenberg

"Thane" is here used in the loose and popular sense to signify the resident owner of considerable territorial possessions.

From Project Gutenberg

And he bade me take my place as Thane of Reedham, confirming me in all rights that had been my father's.

From Project Gutenberg