Scottish title compared with English (5)

I believe the answer is:

thane

'scottish title' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'compared with english' is the wordplay.
'compared with' becomes 'than' (I've seen this in another clue).
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'than'+'e'='THANE'

(Other definitions for thane that I've seen before include "Medieval lord" , "Old lord" , "Anglo-Saxon king's companion; neath (anag.)" , "Macbeth's Cawdor title" , "Anglo-Saxon or Scottish title" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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