In 4–7 fleme, 4, 9 dial. flem. [App. a var. of FLUME (ME. flum), which has both senses; but the phonology is obscure; there may be some confusion with a Teut. word, OE. *fléam:—*flaumo- f. root of OHG. flawen to wash.]
† 1. A stream, river. Chiefly in flem Jordan = L. flumen Jordanis. Obs.
c. 1300. St. Margarete, lviii. Ant let the folewen in holi fonston, Ase ihū christ was ymself y the flem iurdan.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 309. Þe grete flem of þy flod folded me vmbe.
c. 1430. Syr Tryam., 142.
| To fleme Jordon and to Bedlem, | |
| And to the borogh of Jerusalem. |
1516. in Myrr. our Ladye (1873), p. l. The water of fleme Iordane was stopped ayenst the natural course.
2. An artificial channel, watercourse, mill-stream. Now only dial.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., xi. (1539), 55. By a mylne fleme made with mens hande.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 356. Cutting a fleme or main carriage 18 foot broad and scarce a yard deep.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Flem, a mill-stream, i. e. the channel of water from the main stream to the mill, below which the streams reunite.
1881. Evans, Leicestersh. Gloss., Fleam, a ‘mill-tail’; the stream that flows from a watermill after having turned the wheel. ‘Shay fell i’ the mill flem.’
