[thane] n [ME theyn, fr. OE thegn; akin to OHG thegan thane and perh. to Gk tiktein to bear, beget] (bef. 12c) 1: a free retainer of an Anglo-Saxon lord; esp: one resembling a feudal baron by holding lands of and performing military service for the king
2: a Scottish feudal lord -- thane.ship n