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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Uncost, n. Also: uncoist, wncost. [e.m.E. uncoste (c1480); Cost n.¹ Cf. Germ. Unkosten.] Additional expenses, overheads. = Oncost n.See the notes to Oncost n.pl. 1428 Exch. R. IV 435.
Et pro le uncostis predicte lane 1429 Exch. R. IV 498.
Pro naulo et uncostis quorundam bonorum domini regis de Flandria in nave de Cupro 1431 Exch. R. IV 536.
Pro les uncostis sex barellium … salmonum 1453 Exch. R. V 607.
Pro diversis et variis uncostis, videlicet cariagiis, naulis, et quampluribus minutis expensis 1488 Acta Aud. 117/1.
The custemez, fraucht & vncostis maid be the said George of the said malt 1494 Treas. Acc. I 248.
Thir ar the expensis and vncostis … to the men that keste abowte the schype 1499 Misc. Hist. Soc. IX 80.
Et pro expensis in domicilio factis vocatis les uncostez viz. carbonibus … candelis [etc.] [£114 19 s. 11 d.] 1490–1 Dundee B. Ct. I 166b (14 Jan.).
The siluer that he suld haf had of the vncostis of the poyk of maddyr that wes in pley of Dauid Spaldingis schip 1504 Treas. Acc. II 443.
Payit to Hannis, gunnar, for uncostis of artailȝery 1507 Treas. Acc. III 411.
For the uncostis of the gret hennis that com forth of Flandrez … and for thair met 1510 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 4.
Twa ymagis, ane of Sanct John, and ane of Sanct Katerne, the price foure pund greit extending to twelf pundis Scottis mony, and in uncostis, twenty schillingis 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 154.
Gevin … for custume veying, pynour for palking, and all uther uncostis(b) c1575 Balfour Pract. 633.
Gif the merchand persew his merchandice within ȝeir and day fra the said perishing and tinsel, he sall recover it, payand the uncoistis of the saifing to thame that has done the samin 1608 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I 217.
Summa of the haill money debursit this week in materiallis and vther extraordinary vncoistissing. 1502 Orkney Rentals i 22.
To pay … for Widwall ane barrell butter but ony fee or uncost 1602 Conv. Burghs II 142.
Gif ane skipper cumis vpoun ground … giff he can cum be ony … lichter to lois afe the guidis in the schip … than sall the skipper mak coist vpoun the lichting of the schip; and the merchand to pay the vncoist of thair guidis 1674 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 22b.
Extraordinar uncost redding & bearing snow out of the eye fra 1 Mar. to 8 Mar.(b) 1654 Inchmahome Pr. 149.
He payed 3000 marks yearlie for the coalheuch and salt pans, without any wncost or charge to me at all 1683 Fawside Coal Compt 117.
Wncost 8 December, … 3 karts coall to the lodgeing £3 4 s.

b. attrib. as adj. Only in coal-mining contexts (see note to Oncost n.): That is over and above the basic (person or thing); additional, extra. 1671 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 1b.
Tuo faddon tows to the uncost creill 1672–3 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 17b.
For 33 dayes uncost work in setting doun the said sink thar being 4 men daylie at 6 s. 8 d. per peice each day 1675 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt July 10.
Which vncost rebait the product maks 1676 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 12 Feb.
The sowme of 208 lib. Scotts as the value of the uncost ticketts allowed by the coalȝieris to the master weekly which was formerly allowed to Carswell and others who were overseeris of the said coallworkis 1678 Fawside Coal Compt 25.
Wncost … mindemen £4 1678 Fawside Coal Compt 30.
To the tuo uncostmen £4 18 . 1678 Fawside Coal Compt 31.
To the uncost beirer £2 1680 Fawside Coal Compt 62.
Wncost men for reding the old wests £3 12 s. 1683 Fawside Coal Compt 105.
Wncost coallis £2 15 s.