Book-keeping. [WASTE a.] A rough account-book (now little used in ordinary business) in which entries are made of all transactions (purchases, sales, receipts, payments, etc.) at the time of their occurrence, to be ‘posted’ afterwards into the more formal books of the set.
In the simpler forms of book-keeping the DAY-BOOK and the JOURNAL were not distinguished from the waste-book.
1613. J. Saris, Voy. Japan (Hakl. Soc.), 115. As apeares in the wast booke.
1615. R. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 45. Broad cloth; measurd, as apereth per perticulers in the wast book.
1673. T. Browne (title), The absolute Accomptant … consisting of a memorial (vulgarly called a ‘Waste book’) and a ‘Cash book.’
1689. Lond. Gaz., No. 2480/4. With a practical Waste-book, Journal and Ledger.
1706. Phillips, s.v. Post an Account, To transcribe, or enter what is written in a Merchant’s Waste-Book into the Journal.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, ii. This is a kind of waste-book, Owen, in which all the transactions of the day, emptions,… draughts, commissions, and advices, are entered miscellaneously.
1831. Sutherland Farm Rep., 84, in Libr. Usef. Knowl., Husb., III. The waste-books … are carried on from week to week throughout the year.
1849. Freese, Comm. Class-bk., 95. The Waste-Book, called also sometimes the Day-book or Diary.
