Lemman

Origin

From Middle English lemman, lefmon, leofmon, from Old English lēof + mann, equivalent to lief + man.

Full definition of lemman

Noun

1. Alternative form of leman
2. A lover, sweetheart, especially a secret lover or mistress.
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VI:He wente that his lemman had layne in that bed, and so he leyde hym adowne by Sir Launcelot and toke hym in his armys and began to kysse hym.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.i:Faire Venus seemde vnto his bed to bring
  Her, whom he waking euermore did weene,
  To be the chastest flowre, that ay did spring
  On earthly braunch, the daughter of a king,
  Now a loose Leman to vile seruice bound ....
• 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe:The prisoner I speak of is better booty — a jolly monk riding to visit his leman, an I may judge by his horse-gear and wearing apparel.----