In English law. Those lands of a manor notgranted out in tenancy, but reserved by the lord for his own use and occupation. Landsset apart and appropriated by the lord for his own private use, as for the supply of histable, and the maintenance of his family; the opposite of tenemental lands. Tenancyand demesne, however, were not in every sense the opposites of each other; landsheld for years or at will being included among demesne lands, as well as those in thelord’s actual possession. Spelman ; 2 Bl. Comm. 90.
