sb. [UP- 1 b. Cf. KEEP v. 57 d.] Maintenance in good condition or repair; also, the cost of such. (Freq. from c. 1885.)

1

1884.  Pall Mall G., 10 May, 10/2. Arrangements … for continuing the up-keep and in-gathering of the crops in Mauritius and Ceylon.

2

1887.  Mrs. Daly, Digging & Squatting, 171. The Northern Territory depends very much upon the gold revenue for the upkeep and support of the settlement.

3

1893.  Dk. Argyll, Unseen Found. Soc., v. 145. The constant upkeep of innumerable canals.

4

  So Upkeeping vbl. sb. (UP- 7.)

5

1899.  Westm. Gaz., 26 June, 7/1. Premises which took £150 a year for up-keeping. Ibid. The up-keeping of the premises.

6