We can trace them back to a homestead on the Rivers Volga and Ural.
W. Tooke.
3. (Law) The home and appurtenant land and buildings owned by the head
of a family, and occupied by him and his family.
Homestead law. (a) A law conferring special privileges or exemptions
upon owners of homesteads; esp., a law exempting a homestead from
attachment or sale under execution for general debts. Such laws, with
limitations as to the extent or value of the property, exist in most of
the States. Called also homestead exemption law. (b) Also, a
designation of an Act of Congress authorizing and regulating the sale
of public lands, in parcels of 160 acres each, to actual settlers.
[U.S.]
Home"stead*er (?), n. One who has entered upon a portion of the public
land with the purpose of acquiring ownership of it under provisions of
the homestead law, so called; one who has acquired a homestead in this
manner. [Local, U.S.]
Home"ward (?), a. Being in the direction of home; as, the homeward way.
{ Home"ward (?), Home"wards (?), } adv. [AS. hmweard.] Toward home; in
the direction of one's house, town, or country.
Homeward bound, bound for home; going homeward; as, the homeward bound
fleet.
Hom"i*ci`dal (?), a. Pertaining to homicide; tending to homicide;
murderous.
Hom"i*cide (?), n. [F., fr. L. homicidium, fr. homicida a man slayer;
homo man + caedere to cut, kill. See Homage, and cf. Concise, Shed, v.
t.] 1. The killing of one human being by another.
Homicide is of three kinds: justifiable, as when the killing is
performed in the exercise of a right or performance of a duty;
excusable, as when done, although not as duty or right, yet without
culpable or criminal intent; and felonious, or involving what the law
terms malice; the latter may be either manslaughter or murder. Bouvier.