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Webster 1913 Edition

Onstead

On′stead

,
Noun.
[Possibly a corruption of
homestead
.]
A single farmhouse; a steading.
[Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Grose.
Jamieson.

Definition 2025

onstead

onstead

English

Noun

onstead ‎(plural onsteads)

  1. (Britain, Scotland, dialect) A single farmhouse; a steading.
    • 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.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Grose to this entry?)
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Jamieson to this entry?)

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.

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