Green’s Dictionary of Slang

altham n.

[Partridge sees this as ? root of autem n.; if so, such a link would require a pun of the altar of hymen n. type]

(UK Und.) the wife or female companion of a mendicant villain.

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[UK]Awdeley Fraternitye of Vacabondes in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 4: A Curtall is much like to the Vpright man, but hys authority is not fully so great. He vseth commonly to go with a short cloke, like to grey Friers, & his woman with him in like liuery, which he calleth his Altham if she be hys wyfe, & if she be his harlot, she is called hys Doxy.