leaman

plural leamans

1. alternativeAlternative form of leman.

   Hid thee, my leaman; and I will goe plead for our loue, our loue.

   a. 1616, “A proper new ballett, intituled Rowland’s god-sonne”, in Andrew Clark, editor, The Shirburn Ballads, 1585-1616, Clarendon Press, published 1907, →OCLC, page 355

   2 more examples

   Yea in an honest manner, thou mightest sooner have got a tooth from him than money. Thus the Alchymist was provided for, who was in no danger, but that he wanted something to give his leaman.

   1671, Desiderius Erasmus, “The art of alchymy”, in H.M. Gent, transl., The Colloquies, or Familiar Discourses of Desiderius Erasmus of Roterdam, →OCLC, page 263

   God’s my judge if I lose the quarry I’ll—I’ll—you and your leaman shan’t enjoy it anyhow—I know—I know ’tis.

   1911, Eden Phillpotts, The Beacon, John Lane Company, →OCLC, page 270

plural Leamans

1. A surname.