adv. (sb.) and a. Also up stream, upstream. [UP prep.2 2, 6.]
A. adv. In a direction contrary to the flow of a stream; higher up or along a stream.
Common from c. 1890. Properly as two words, with stress on stream, except when contrasted with down stream. In recent use also const. of or from (a place).
1681. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 1282. To go up stream, adverso flumine navigare.
1839. Longf., Hyperion, I. viii. (1844), 58. The rising tide bears against the rushing torrent up stream, and pushes back the hurrying waters.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, xvi. The sound of a loud rush of water up-stream broke upon us.
1889. J. K. Jerome, Three Men in Boat, ix. 142. Three or four miles up stream is a trifle, early in the morning.
b. quasi-sb. A position or place further up a stream.
1891. Nature, 18 June, 152/2. From upstream of it are derived three main trunk canals.
1915. I. H. Evans, in Man, XV. 25. A spot some two miles to the up-stream of the Tamu ground.
B. adj. 1. Situated farther or higher up a stream.
1838. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 150/1. The up-stream angles of the dam. Ibid. (1843), VI. 88/1. [A] deposit accumulated largely on the up-stream side.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 1084/2. The up-stream end of a canal-lock.
2. Directed, taking place, up-stream.
1826. J. F. Cooper, Mohicans, iii. They call this up-stream current the tide.
1889. Science-Gossip, XXV. 209/2. There is an up-stream migration of elvers in the spring.
1894. Field, 9 June, 832/1. Many experienced anglers do not like an upstream wind for … dun hatchings.
3. U.S. Difficult, troublesome. rare–1.
1847. J. Brown, in Boston Public Library Bulletin, May (1900), 177. I do not wish any upstream measure taken to supply funds.
