The art of keeping a merchant’s or tradesman’s books or accounts.
1689. Lond. Gaz., No. 2480/4. Merchants … who desire to be accomplish’d with the Famous Art of Book-keeping.
1817. J. Scott, Paris Revisit., 82. What is poetry to one, may be book-keeping to another.
1849. Freese, Comm. Class-bk., III. 95, heading. An introduction to book-keeping by single and double entry.
