onstead
nounEtymology 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.
- The farm onsteads on many properties are old, and afford too little accommodation1737, 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 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.1828, Robert Chambers, The Picture of Scotland, volume 1, page 232:
1 more example
- 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.1875, Rev. John Thomson, Life and Times of William Thomson: