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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Onsted, -steid, n. Also: -stead. [Stede n.Only in south. Scotl. In the mod. dial. chiefly south. Sc. and north. Eng.]

A steading, farmstead, piece of ground with dwelling and outhouses built upon it; also onsteid of housis. = Onset(t n.²(1) 1551 Prot. Bk. Sir Wm. Corbet 16.
Come to the sam towne of Fawnis and to the onsteid and place quhair James Hwym dvellis thair 1575 Edinb. Test. IV. 67 b.
The onsted of Caldenheid … & Stichill 1580 Reg. Privy S. VII. 385/2.
[The lands of … Ormistoun … with houses, gardens and] onsteidis 1582 Edinb. Test. XI. 171.
For the beting & mending of the onsteid & hous 1584 Ib. XIII. 195.
His wyf … sall haif … ane chalmer of the said onsteid 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 108.
Anent the burning of Lilias Knowis … hir housses and onsteid 1631 Milne-Home MSS. 218. 1633 Berw. Nat. C. VIII. 275.
In terris de Braidhauche et Leyis cum lie onsteid vulgariter vocato Henhouse-wallis Byrewallis et Dowcat hill, in dominio de Cauldstreame 1646 Kelso Baillie Ct. 87.
Ane common entrie lyand betwixt the … onsteidis or tennementis of land on the eist & west pairts 1657 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 161. 1662 Ib. III. 63.
That tenement and onsteid of houses high and laighe bak and foer with easter and wester yairds 1698 Acts X. 151/1.
[Soldiers] shall not be quartered upon tennents in dispersed onsteads in the countrey(2) 1616 Edinb. Test. XLIX. 43 b.
His thrie akeris of land in Ettalie his onsteid of housis thair 1641 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 86.
[To infeft Bertone in] that tennement and onsteid of houses with the yaird therto adjacent 1664 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 621.
Onsted