pos>n. The practise of providing formal education, especially primary or secondary education, at home rather than in a school. [ PJC ]

a. Pining for home; in a nostalgic condition. -- Home"sick`ness, n. [1913 Webster]

a. 1. Spun or wrought at home; of domestic manufacture; coarse; plain. “Homespun country garbs.” W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Plain in manner or style; not elegant; rude; coarse. “Our homespun English proverb.” Dryden. “Our homespun authors.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Cloth made at home; as, he was dressed in homespun. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An unpolished, rustic person. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. hāmsteall. ] Place of a home; homestead. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. hāmstede. ] 1. The home place; a home and the inclosure or ground immediately connected with it. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The home or seat of a family; place of origin. [ 1913 Webster ]

We can trace them back to a homestead on the Rivers Volga and Ural. W. Tooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) The home and appurtenant land and buildings owned by the head of a family, and occupied by him and his family. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the straight segment of a racetrack leading to the finish line. [ wns=1 ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Hence: [ fig. ] The last or concluding part of any extended activity that has a definite conclusion; the final phase of any activity; as, the election was neck-and-neck in the homestretch. [ PJC ]