dial. A drain or watercourse in fen districts.
1601. F. Godwin, Bps. of Eng., 221. Ye new leame that he [Bp. Morton] caused to be made for more conuenient cariage to his towne … many complaine that the course of the riuer Nene into the sea by Clowcrosse is very much hindred thereby.
1646. Buck, Rich. III., 53. Doctor Morton for his private commodity … brought certain Leames or bigger ditches to his owne grounds about Wisbitch.
1861. Smiles, Engineers, I. 67. Many droves, leams, eaus, and drains were cut.
1881. Times, 13 Jan., 9/4. The existing ‘cuts’ or ‘leams’ cease to fulfil their functions in course of time, by a gradual alteration in their own beds or in the surrounding levels.
