Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ONCOST, n. Also ¶-cast; -coast; un-. [′ɔnkɔst]
1. Outlay, “as that which is laid out on land before there be any return” (Lth. 1808 Jam.); capital costs which have to be met before profits can be assessed.
2. Extra or additional cost (Fif. 1825 Jam.); all the additional charges which have to be added to the orig. cost of the raw materials and labour of an article, rents, insurances, freight, customs, wharfage, etc.; specif. in mining, with variations in meaning as the system of wage payments altered from time to time: all charges for labour and maintenance additional to the miners, remuneration, payment to a collier over and above the rate per ton, a kind of bonus payment (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 48), but essentially referring to all labour payments made in a mine on a timeas opposed to a piece-work basis. Also attrib. as in oncost man, a time-worker, one whose pay is accounted to the overheads, oncost work, time work. The use of oncosts for overhead costs in accountancy is apparently of Sc. orig.Fif. 1725 Hist. MSS. Comm. X. I. 154:
He [the oversman] must judg of the different prices of the oncoast wadges.m.Lth. 1746 Bryan Pit Acct. Bk. MS. 12:
James Thomson 18 loads at oncost.Hdg. 1788 Scots Mag. (Jan. 1897) XIX. 153:
To Da Richardson for ale and meat to the Coaliers . . £1 1 0 To Do for Drink to the oncost men . . . . £0 8 0.Clc. 1813 P. Graham Agric. Knr. 401:
The general price paid for working great coal is from two to three shillings per ton; and the selling price for the same quantity, upon the hill, is 6s. 8d. which yields but a very small return to the coal-master, on account of the overpowering contingent expences, known in collieries by the name of oncast [sic].Fif. 1841 Trans. Highl. Soc. 326:
The term on-cost applies to all work people above or below ground, except the actual coal-hewers and putters, and who are said to be “on the general charge”, . . . The term is sometimes applied to what is paid to a collier for crossing a hitch, or removing any difficulty which occurs different from the regular working, such as a fall on the roads, levels, or wall faces.Sc. 1887 Scotsman (30 May) 7:
The oncost men, who receive fixed wages for various duties at the colliery.Sc. 1901 Labour Gazette (April) 124:
Underground workers: miners and oncost-men . . . Coal miners and oncost workers.Sc. 1903 Encycl. Accounting V. 199:
The origin of the term “Oncost” is obscure; it may have arisen from the idea of expenses as being something added “on to cost” taking cost as the prime or first cost in labour and materials. The word now signifies the “expenses” or “charges” incurred in keeping up a factory or establishment, in paying for its administration and in disposing of its goods and products.Sc. 1991 T. S. Law in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 33:
ginn
piece-timm at the darg alow
whoere collier bodies
wrocht awo
contrack, or oncost keekiebo.
3. A timeworker in a mine, prob. short for oncost-worker.Lnk. 1862 D. Wingate Poems 180:
The “oncost” near the bottom sat.Sc. 1894 N.B. Daily Mail (15 Sept.) 5:
In Uddingston district only four oncosts worked.
