onstead

English

Etymology

With loss of original w-, due to Scandinavian una (to reside, dwell), from *wonstead, from won (to reside, dwell) + stead. More at wone, stead.

Alternatively, possibly a corruption of homestead.

Noun

onstead (plural onsteads)

  1. (UK, Scotland, dialect, archaic) A single farmhouse; a steading.
    • 1737, Mr David Wilson, “on the Present State of the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire”, in Prize-essays and Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland:
      The farm onsteads on many properties are old, and afford too little accommodation
    • 1828, Robert Chambers, The Picture of Scotland, volume 1, page 232:
      The onstead, which is nearly the same as when inhabited by the poet, lies about seven miles from the town, on the right hand side of the road, surrounded by a few trees.
    • 1875, Rev. John Thomson, Life and Times of William Thomson:
      We then did a house at Mowhaugh, and a farm-house at Stodrig, and a part of an onstead. I did the wrightwork of a house at Bemersyde, and an onstead at Butchercote.

References

onstead”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

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