DCHP-1 Online
homestead ((n.)) † 
1 n. a piece of farmland, including a house and outbuildings, where a family makes its home.
- 1755 (1895) If we can accomplish this expulsion, it will have been one of the greatest deeds the English in America have ever achieved; for, among other considerations, the part of the country which they occupy is one of the best soils in the world, and, in that event, we might place some good farmers on their homesteads.
- 1957 Last year, at fifty-three, he gave his son the Parker homestead and one hundred acres in Ellice first tilled in 1853 by his English-born grandfather.
2a n. a tract of government land taken up by a settler as a grant, especially under the conditions of homestead laws.
See also: Homestead Act (def. 2) Homestead Law (def. 1) location (def. 1a)
- 1827 1st Capital Prize will consist of . . . part of the homestead of the Subscriber, in the flourishing village of Dundas.
- 1884 The majority of the settlers are engaged in getting out logs for houses to be erected on their homesteads next summer.
- 1966 [Caption] These prairie schooners brought Canadians back from Montana to homesteads in the Peace River Country.
2b n. the house raised on such a piece of land.
- 1877 (1880) In short, I have very little doubt that this portion of the territories, before many years, will abound with herds of cattle, and be dotted with a not a few comfortable homesteads.
- 1966 [Caption] This grassland homestead near Lloydminster, Alta . . . was made out of mud bricks.
- 1755 (1895) If we can accomplish this expulsion, it will have been one of the greatest deeds the English in America have ever achieved; for, among other considerations, the part of the country which they occupy is one of the best soils in the world, and, in that event, we might place some good farmers on their homesteads.