Originally (obsolete) , a person's partner (of either sex) in life or marriage; a spouse; also, the mate of an animal; now (dated) , a person's male lover or partner; a boyfriend; a husband.
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[N]ovv vvhen they be but heyfers of one year, or tvvo years at the moſt (vvhich is more tollerable) they are let goe to the fellovv and breed.
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1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book VIII.] Of Buls, Kine, and Oxen.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 1st tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, page 224:
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I am your vvife, if you vvill marrie me; / If not, Ile die your maid: to be your fellovv / You may denie me, but Ile be your ſeruant / VVhether you vvill or no.
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1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 11, column 2: