2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Thane  \Thane\  (th[=a]n),  n.  [OE.  thein,  [thorn]ein,  AS 
  [thorn]egen,  [thorn]egn;  akin  to  OHG.  degan  a  follower, 
  warrior,  boy,  MHG.  degen  a  hero,  G.  degen  hero,  soldier, 
  Icel.  [thorn]egn  a  thane,  a  freeman;  probably  akin  to  Gr 
  te`knon  a  child,  ti`ktein  to  bear,  beget,  or  perhaps  to  Goth. 
  [thorn]ius  servant,  AS  [thorn]e['o]w,  G.  dienen  to  serve.] 
  A  dignitary  under  the  Anglo-Saxons  and  Danes  in  England.  Of 
  these  there  were  two  orders  the  king's  thanes,  who  attended 
  the  kings  in  their  courts  and  held  lands  immediately  of  them 
  and  the  ordinary  thanes,  who  were  lords  of  manors  and  who  had 
  particular  jurisdiction  within  their  limits.  After  the 
  Conquest,  this  title  was  disused,  and  baron  took  its  place 
 
  Note:  Among  the  ancient  Scots,  thane  was  a  title  of  honor, 
  which  seems  gradually  to  have  declined  in  its 
  significance.  --Jamieson. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  thane 
  n  1:  a  feudal  lord  or  baron  in  Scotland 
  2:  a  man  ranking  above  an  ordinary  freeman  and  below  a  noble  in 
  Anglo  Saxon  England  especially  one  who  gave  military  serve 
  in  exchange  for  land 

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