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.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
