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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†COSTANENT, Coast Anent, Costinent, Cos(s)nent, adv., adj., v.

1. adv. Working for wages without board (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ant. 1898 E.D.D., costanent).Uls. 1901 A. M'Ilroy in North. Whig:
They're forby weel py'd — whather engaged wi' their meat or cost-a-nent, an' micht leeve comfortable an' contented.Ant. 1892 Ballymena Obs. (E.D.D.):
A'll gie you a shillin' a day an' your meat, or twenty pence constinent.

Phr.: to work black cossnent, “to work without either meat or wages. The phrase is often used with respect to a cottager who gives part of his labour for a house” (Ayr. 1825 Jam.²).

2. adj. In phr. cosnent wark, — toil, work unpaid either in money or kind. Cf. phr. above.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie II. xviii.:
I dinna, however, wish you to work cosnent wark, that is, without meat or wage.Ayr. 1835 Galt Efforts 43:
For ay his back was sore Whene'er a neighbour wanted cosnent toil.

3. v. To work for wages without board.Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
Farm labourers who are given money to lodge and board themselves are said to “coast anent.”