Thegn
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia · John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914
Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia
An Anglo-Saxon term meaning a retainer
Afterwards it came to designate the territorial nobility. At a later period these were king’s Thegns, who were persons of great importance, and inferior thegns. Military service appears to have run through it all. After the Conquest, they were merged into the class of knights.
Encycl. Br.