Thane

thān, n. a member of a cla in the old English community that stood distinctly below the old nobility ( eorl as , .), but above the mere landowners or ceorls —a kind of nobility of service rather than blood.— ns. Thā′nage , Thane′dom , the jurisdiction or the dignity of a thane; Thane′hood , Thane′ship . [A.S. thegen , thegn , a servant, nobleman— thíhan , to grow; cog. with Ice. thegn , a man, warrior, Ger. degen , a soldier, servant, Gr. teknon , child.]