[One of the many corrupt forms (see quots.) of OE. flýmena fyrmð, lit. ‘entertainment of fugitives.’]
1. A term of OE. law, prob. meaning the offence of entertaining a banished person, and hence the king’s right of exacting a penalty for this offence. The word was prob. not understood after the OE. period, but was preserved in formal enumerations of the rights pertaining to the king. The explanations in the quots. are the conjectures of legal antiquaries. A synonymous term flýman feorm (see FARM sb.1) occurs, in OE. laws, and is cited in various corrupt forms in law-books.
c. 1020. Secular Laws Cnut, c. 12 (Thorpe, 1840), 164. Ðis syndon þa ȝerihta þe se cyning ah ofer eall men on Wessexan, þæt is … flymena-fyrmðe.
c. 1250. Gloss. Law Terms, in Rel. Ant., I. 33. Fremenfremthe, chatel de futif.
1672. Manley, Cowell’s Interpr., Flemenes-firinth, But more truly Flymena frymthe … signifies the relieving of a Fugitive. This word is variously written in old Charters, as Flemeneferd, Flemenefrit, Flemenefremith, Flemanisflit, Flemenewurd, Fremenefenda, and Flemenesfricthe. Ibid., Flemenesfreme and Flemenesfrenthe are said to be the Chattels of Fugitives.
¶ 2. Misused for: An asylum for outlaws.
1803. Scott, Last Minstr., IV. xxiv.
| And ill beseems your rank and birth | |
| To make your towers a flemens-firth. |
