thane

See also Thane

English

Alternative forms

• thegn

Etymology

From Old English þeġen, þegn, from Proto-Germanic *þegnaz (“man, warrior”), from Proto-Indo-European *teke-, *give birth. Compare Dutch degen, German Degen, Icelandic þegn.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪn

Noun

thane (plural thanes)

1. in Anglo-Saxon England, a man holding lands from the king, or from a superior in rank. 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 Norman Conquest, this title was no longer used, and baron took its place.

   The little island of Iona became the refuge of the sons and some thanes of Athelfrith, banished by Edwin. — Robert A. Thompson, "The People's History of England", The Walter Scott Publishing Co., Ltd., New York, 1910

Anagrams

• Ethan
• neath, 'neath, Neath