THANE, noun The thanes in England were formerly persons of some dignity; of these there were two orders, the king's thanes, who attended the Saxon and Danish kings in their courts, and held lands immediately of them; and the ordinary thanes, who were lords of manors, and who had a particular jurisdiction within their limits. After the conquest, this title was disused, and baron took its place.
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Webster's Dictionary 1828
American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828.