thane

thane Definition

thane (t̸hān)

noun

in early England, a member of a class of freemen who held land of the king or a lord in return for military services
in early Scotland, a person of rank, often a clan chief, who held land of the king

Etymology: ME thayne < OE thegen, akin to ON thegn < IE base *tek-, to engender, beget > Sans takman-, child: basic sense “freeborn man”

thane Related Forms

than′·age (-ij) noun

thane Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

English: At that time the English Thanes had a strong influence on the administration of the county and its courts and Sigeweard was no exception.

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