Also 4–6 vpper, 5–7 vper; 6 hoper. [f. UP a. + -ER3. Cf. MDu. upper (Du. and Flem. opper), LG. upper, üpper, MSW., Norw. yppare, older Da. yppere, better.] Comparative of UP a., and signifying ‘higher,’ ‘over,’ loftier,’ ‘top’ (in contrast to lower, nether, under). In some senses replacing the earlier UVER, OVER adjs.
I. 1. Occupying, comprising or consisting of, rising or more elevated ground (and usu. further in the interior). Freq. in proper names of districts, etc.
13[?]. K. Alis., 5691 (Laud MS.). Þe kyng þennes went forþ … in to ynde in þe norþ, Þat is ycleped … þe vpper ynde.
1526. Tindale, Acts xix. 1. Paul passed thorow the vpper costes and cam to Ephesus.
1598. Grenewey, Tacitus, Ann., XII. vii. (1622), 163. About the same time vpper Germany quaked with feare.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., V. i. 3. You said the Enemy would … keepe the Hilles and vpper Regions.
a. 1660. Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.), I. 160. Either to Vper Ormond or the countie of Clare.
a. 1676. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man. (1677), 219. If Inundations prevailed in Greece and those upper Countries, Egypt … could not easily escape them.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Nimbis, The Nimbis is seen on the Medals … of the upper Empire.
1791. Geo. III., in Ann. Reg., St. Papers, 124*. His majesty thinks … that … his province of Quebec … should be divided into two separate provinces, to be called the province of Upper Canada, and the province of Lower Canada.
1849. Eastwick, Dry Leaves, 22. My vessel being an Upper Sindh boat.
1863. Lyell, Antiq. Man, 43. For the river to bring down from the upper country so large a quantity of earthy matter.
1864–. [see WARD sb.2 20].
b. Of peoples: Occupying a higher or more inland district.
1617. Moryson, in C. L. Falkiner, Illustr. Irish Hist. (1904), 215. The Iberni, called the upper Irish, inhabiting about Beer-haven and Baltimore.
c. 1790. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), V. 484/1. The Lower and Upper Cossacks,… and a part of the Don Cossacks.
c. Situated in, located on, a higher or loftier position, high ground, etc.; more elevated or lofty; higher in altitude.
Freq. in the proper names of hamlets, villages, etc.
1467. Rolls of Parlt., V. 586/2. Landes and Tenementes in Netherburneham, Upperburneham, West Wode.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXXII. (Percy Soc.), 159. After this, dame Correccion … first … led me to the upper ward.
1611. Bible, Joshua xv. 19. He gaue her the vpper springs, and the nether springs.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v., The Upper Region of the Air.
1708. Watts, Poems (1743), II. 160. Around the golden Streets they rove, And bless the Mansions of the upper Skies.
1778. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 2), III. 1604/2. The bason [of the lock] being filled with water by an upper sluice to the level of the waters above, a vessel may ascend thro’ the upper gate. Ibid., 1605/1. So that the water in the lock may rise to a level with the water in the upper canal.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, V. 296. [She] thought herself in the upper regions, where happiness … consisted of perpetual admiration.
1819. Shelley, Peter Bell 3rd, II. vii. Each had an upper stream of thought.
1857. Hawthorne, Eng. Note-bks. (1870), II. 414. Those misty upper-depths seemed almost to be hung with clouds.
1862. J. Brown, Minchmoor (1864), 11. You can get a glimpse of the upper woods of Abbotsford.
1873. Geikie, Phys. Geog., § 89. [These] clouds … are driven along by upper currents of air.
1883. Good Words, Aug., 529/2. Those plants and animals which live in the ‘upper littoral.’
fig. 1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lvii. 166. To make him yet more bold, he had the upper ground of the heire.
d. Occupying or forming (part of) the higher or highest portion or division of a building.
1522–3. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 317. A chest in the vpper vestry.
1557. Bible (Genev.), Acts i. 13. They went vp into an vpper chamber.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 15. The thrid sort be retaylers in the vpper shopps.
1611. Florio, Soprastanza, an vpper-lodging.
1665. in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 247. A lower and an upper chamber.
1764. Harmer, Observ., iii. § 1. 89. An upper-story, which is flat on the top.
1779. Mirror, No. 9. Some of the upper boxes were filled with ladies.
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xiv. 254. He used to lie … upon the floor of his little upper room.
fig. 1647. Trapp, Comm. 2 Cor. v. 1. In the wonderful frame of man’s body the bones are the timber work, the head the upper-lodging.
1699–. [see STORY sb.2 1 c].
1796. [see GARRET sb.1 3].
1870. Brewer, Dict. Phrase & Fable, 924/1. ‘Ill-furnished in the upper story’; a head without brains.
1877. Holderness Gloss., 152/1. He’s a bit wake (weak) iv his upper-garret.
Comb. 1697. Dryden, Æneis, Ded. e 3 b. Our Upper-Gallery Audience in a Play-House.
2. With partitive terms, esp. end, part, side.
Occas. hyphened or as one word, as † upperhand, upper-side.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, V. vii. He to whome men purposen to doo somme euylle tourn, syth men holden hym at auauntage, men muste putte hym self at the vpper side of hym. Ibid. (c. 1489), Blanchardyn, xlvi. 178. The noble mayden … ryght fyersli … began to loke vpon hym, drawyng herselfe to the vpperhande of hym.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 3 b. The vpper parte of this foresayd ymage.
1568. Freiris Berwik, 22. The tovne,… the castell and the land, The he wallis vpoun the vpper hand.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, XI. xxix. 341. Lines … which ioyne together the angles of the vpper and nether bases.
a. 1600. in Child, Ballads, II. 245/2. A grave, a grave,… to put these lovers in; But lay my lady on the upper hand.
1674. Hooke, Animadv., 52. The upper side thereof must be plained exactly smooth and flat.
1731. P. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Melo, The Upperside of the Hot-beds where your early Melons … are planted.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Down-haul,… a rope … tied to the upper-corner of the sail.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina, xxi. Driving us to the upper end of Piccadilly.
1805. R. Jameson, Char. Min. (1816), 204. When … [the crystal] has upon its upper and under parts, faces that alternate with each other.
1868. Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869), 360. The well and the opening in the upper side [of the road].
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 69. The upper portion of a [coal] seam.
b. Of surfaces. † Upperface, = SUPERFICIES.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. B 3. Then came there fire … and consumed them all, from the vpper face of the earth.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., III. (1597), 128 b. Superficies or vpper-face, is that which onely hath length and breadth.
1596. Edward III., I. ii. 152. Where the vpper turfe of earth doth boast His … party colloured cost, Delue there.
1611. Cotgr., Rez,… the superficies, or vpper face of a plaine, or leuell peece of ground.
1728. Bradley, Dict. Bot., s.v. Marrubium, Leaves … smooth and woolly underneath…, but somewhat … rugged on the Upperside.
1733. Tull, Horse-Hoeing Husb., 404. The Upper-surface of the Fore-end of the Beam.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., III. 364. Facies,… the upper surface of the head.
1884. Coues, Key N. Amer. Birds, 110. The upper and under surfaces of the wing.
3. a. That forms the higher of a pair of corresponding things or sets. Also occas. = uppermost.
Upper-case, Printing (quots. 1683–): see CASE sb.2 9.
c. 1460. [upper crust: see 12 a].
1524. State Papers Hen. VIII., II. 117. He shall endevour hymself to cause the Kynges subjectes … to have the upper berdes to be shaven.
1530. Tindale, Deut. xxiv. 6. No man shall take the nether or the vpper milstone to pledge.
1533. MS. Rawl. D. 776, fol. 157 b. The vpper fflowryng of the same wharffe.
1609. Bible (Douay), Exod. xii. 22. Sprinkle the uppertransome of the doore therwith. Ibid., 23. The bloud on the uppersil, and on both the postes.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Espée, The vpper boords of a Vine-presse.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, ii. § 3. 19. The Whole Vpper-Case is divided into Ninety eight square Boxes.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. vii. I first mounted to the upper step of the ladder [= a movable pair of stairs].
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 691. The two upper branches or rails of the trunk, or upright piece.
1852. Seidel, Organ, 37. A couple of bellows … consist first of an upper and under-board.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 708. Upper masts, the top-mast, topgallant-mast, and royal-mast.
1873. Routledge’s Yng. Gentl. Mag., July, 503/1. An upper-iron being screwed on to the lower one to turn the shaving back a little.
fig. 1788. New London Mag., 264. One blow well told to the upper tire (the head), tells better than three below.
Comb. 1738. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Letter, Printers distinguish their letters into capital … or upper-case letters,… and … small, or under-case letters.
1771. Luckombe, Hist. Print., 261. [These letters] are not reckoned … among Upper-case Sorts.
b. spec. in Anat., etc. (Cf. SUPERIOR a. 11.)
1546. [see 16 a].
1548. Vicary, Anat., v. (1577), F ij b. The bones or bony partes, fyrste of the Cheekes be two;… of the vpper Mandibile, two.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 335. [The] crocodile … moueth his vpper chappe.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 108. It conveyeth it into the duodenum or upper gut, thence into the lower bowells.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Maxillæ, The … Upper Jaw, is immoveable in Man.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., V. 274. The upper chap [of the parrot], as well as the lower, are both moveable.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., III. xxxiii. 374. The Upper or Primary Wings.
1838. Penny Cycl., X. 141/2. When the upper lid [of the eye] is raised.
1850. J. F. Cooper, Ways of Hour, I. 104. His front upper teeth were all gone.
1884. Coues, N. Amer. Birds, 110. The upper Primary coverts, or coverts of the primaries.
Comb. 1879. Ruskin, St. Mark’s Rest, Suppl. ii. 20. The man’s thigh and upper-arm bones.
1896. Godey’s Mag., April, 430/1. His upper-limb muscles.
c. Upper bench, the name during the exile of Charles II. of the KING’S BENCH. Now Hist.
1649. Acts Interregnum (1911), II. 108. Three or more of the Justices of the upper Bench.
1651. in Kitchin’s Jurisdictions (1653), 579. The most Vsual Writs which have been used in the Kings Bench, and are most like to continue in that Court, now called the Vpper-Bench.
a. 1675. Whitelocke, Mem. (1682), 375. Voted [on 12 Feb. 1649] that the Kings-Bench Court should be called the Upper Bench.
d. Orange Upperwing, a European noctuid moth, Hoporina croceago.
1832. Rennie, Brit. Butterfl. & Moths, 85. The Orange Upperwing … appears in September;… first pair [of wings] golden orange…; second pair white.
1869. E. Newman, Brit. Moths, 373/1.
4. † a. Upper-stock: (see STOCK sb.1 40). Usu. pl.
1535. in Archaeologia, IX. 251. A paire of upper stockis of purple veluette,… also … a newe paire of nether stockis.
1542. Nottingham Rec., III. 220. One peyr blacke hoys, the upper stokes blake velvet.
c. 1570. Pride & Lowl. (1841), 19. His upper stockes of sylken grogerane.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, xxxviii. 118. He conueyed a dagger in the vpperstock of his hose.
[1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxi. His upper stocks of white velvet, lined with cloth of silver.]
b. That covers or clothes an upper part of the body, esp. the chest or shoulders. (Cf. 5 a.)
Freq. from 1579 to 1625 in upper body.
1579. Aldeburgh Rec., in N. & Q., 12th Ser. VII. 328/2. An upper bodye and lyninge and a neckercher for hir.
1587. in Antiquary (1896), XXXII. 76. For an upper body and lace, xxiij d.
1625. Fletcher, Fair Maid, II. ii. Nothing but her vpper bodies.
1871. S. Mateer, Land of Charity, xxi. 278. A cloth or scarf laid over the shoulder, called the ‘upper cloth,’ as worn by the Súdra women.
1895. C. Silvester, Horne Story of L. M. S., 298. In 1858, the ‘upper cloth’ riots broke out again.
5. a. Of garments, etc.: Worn above or outside another; outer, exterior; = OVER a. 1 b. (Cf. 4 b.)
1526. Tyndale, John xiii. 4. Iesus … layde a syde hys vpper garments.
1547. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 10. Thupper & nether Baces & thunder sleves of clothe of golde.
1598. Florio, Sourafodro, a false vpper scabbard. Ibid. (1611), Soprabenda, an vpper scarfe.
1615. Sandys, Trav., 14. Their arme-pits: from whence the skirts now loosely, fringed below; the vpper shorter than the neather.
1645. Rutherford, Tri. Faith, 305. Christ clothed with love,… and yet his upper garment is vengeance.
1686. Lond. Gaz., No. 2193/4. A brown coloured upper Coat.
1759. Johnson, Rasselas, xxxviii. When my upper vest was taken off.
1778. Clara Reeve, Old English Baron, 84. You may take off her upper garments, and any thing of value.
1796. Grose’s Dict. Vulgar T. (ed. 3), Upper Benjamin, a great coat.
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., Upper-Ben, Upper-Benjamin, Upper-Tog, a great coat.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, ii. The upper dress of this personage resembled that of his companion in shape.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, iii. A white upper-coat ornamented with cheese-plate buttons.
fig. a. 1634. Chapman, Bussy d’Ambois, V. (1641), 65. Note what he wants? He wants his upper weed, He wants his life, and body.
Comb. 1840. Thackeray, Pict. Rhapsody, Wks. 1899, XIII. 350. A hideous dress, with upper-Benjamin buttons.
b. Furthest removed from the door or entrance; innermost. Usually with end (cf. 2).
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 27. Thence she them brought into a stately Hall…. At th’ upper end there sate … a comely personage.
a. 1613. Overbury, Newes, Misc. Wks. (1890), 191. The best company makes the upper end of the table, and not the salt-cellar.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 446. His high Throne … at th’ upper end Was plac’t in regal lustre.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 109, ¶ 1. We were now arrived at the Upper-end of the Gallery.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, iii. The walls of this upper end of the hall.
fig. a. 1672. Wilkins, Nat. Relig., 331. So only those at the upper end of the world are capable of being counted rich.
1714. R. Fiddes, Pract. Disc., II. 157. Sometimes the most profligate sinners are seated at the upper end of the world.
6. a. Said of the surface of the earth and things upon it, in contrast to the under or nether regions.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 422. For those Appointed to sit there, had left thir charge, Flown to the upper World.
1679. C. Nesse, Antichrist, Ded. You may improve this upper-ground whereon you stand.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 699. The lovely Bride In safety goes,… Longing the common Light again to share, And draw the vital breath of upper Air.
1815. Wordsw., Artegal & Elidure, 53. Of Arthur,—who, to upper light restored,… Shall lift his country’s fame above the polar star!
1822. Byron, Vis. Judgem., xii. He’s dead—and upper earth with him has done; He’s buried.
1887. Browning, Apollo & Fates, 10. The Fates. (Below. Darkness.)… We … Deal to each mortal his dole of light On earth—the upper, the glad, the bright.
Comb. 1862. Smiles, Engineers, III. 9. The upper-ground workmen employed at the coal-pits.
b. Constituting or forming a stratum, layer, bed, etc., lying nearer the earth’s surface or formed later in time; spec. of stratifications of more recent formation than another of that character and name.
See also 12 b. GREENSAND 1, OOLITE 2–3, SILURIAN a. 2 b.
1696. Whiston, The. Earth, 77. Our upper strata … being generally factitious, or acquir’d at the Universal Deluge.
1733. Tull, Horse-Hoeing Husb., 251. The … Hills whereof the Upper-Stratum (or Staple) is Mould.
c. 1775. in Encycl. Brit. (ed. 2), IV. 2526/1. If a ditch … penetrate through the upper stratum of clay.
1839. Murchison, Silur. Syst., xlv. 605. The Ludlow and Wenlock Formations, or Upper Silurian Rocks.
1852. Sedgwick, in London Lit. Gazette, 338/3. A part of my Upper Cambrian series.
1873. Dawson, Earth & Man, iv. 56. The Lower Silurian is the Upper Cambrian of Sedgwick.
1873. E. Hull, Coal-fields Gt. Brit. (ed. 3), 192. The strata overlying the ‘Upper-foot,’ or ‘Bullion-coal.’
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 69. Upper-leaf, the upper portion of a seam which is separated by a parting into two portions.
fig. 1859. G. Meredith, R. Feverel, xix. Tossed into the upper stratum of civilized life.
1877, 1890. [see STRATUM 6].
Comb. 1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, 299. The height at which the upper-level gravels stand above the present water-line.
1890. Science-Gossip, XXVI. 146. The upper limestone masses.
7. Occurring or taking place in, directed towards, a higher or the highest position. Upper cut, in Pugilism (see quot. 1897).
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 402. An vpper attaint or ouer-reach vpon the backe sinnew of the shanke.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Attaint, The Farriers distinguish upper Attaints, given by the Toe of the Hind-foot upon the sinew of the Fore-leg,—And nether Attaints.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 135. The further admission of steam to that side during the upper stroke [of the piston].
1856. Sat. Rev., II. 658/2. Resorting to means of defence against which cross-buttocks and upper-cuts … will do very little good indeed.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 708. Upper transit, the passage of a circumpolar star over the meridian above the pole.
1897. Encycl. Sport, I. 139. Upper cut,… a counter, delivered upwards with either hand, when an opponent leads off or rushes in with his head down.
II. 8. Occupying a higher (or the highest) position, station, or rank; superior in authority, place, etc.
1477. Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 36. That Alexander … be continevit vpper and principale maister of wark.
1526. Tindale, Acts xxii. 26. The vnder captayne … went to the vpper captayne, and tolde hym.
1561. in Maitl. Club Misc., III. 209. We hawe command of ye vppir poweris to put the same in executione.
1647. Bury Wills (Camden), 195. At the disposing of … God, whoe is the onely supreme and vpper Lord of all.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 180, ¶ 4. The Abatement which they suffer when paid, by the Extortion of Upper Servants.
1771. Luckombe, Hist. Print., 86. He was upper-warden of the Stationer’s Company.
1836–9. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Gt. Winglebury Duel. I am the upper-boots…; the other man’s my man, as … does odd jobs.
1847. C. Brontë, J. Eyre, v. One of the upper teachers … installed herself at the top of one table.
1862. Trollope, Orley F., II. 248, ‘I was housemaid at Orley Farm.’ ‘Were you upper or under there?’
b. Higher or highest in respect of influence, wealth, office, or dignity; wealthy, aristocratic, influential.
Freq. since c. 1890, esp. with class (cf. CLASS sb. 2).
1825. J. Wilson, in Blackw. Mag., March, 373. I wad aiblins introduce the upper ranks intil the wark.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. VII. ii. The best-informed Upper-Circles. Ibid. (1839), Chartism, v. The oppressing or neglecting upper classes.
1844–. [see 18].
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Universities. These seminaries are finishing schools for the upper classes, and not for the poor.
Comb. 1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. V. ix. The riband-cockade, as a symptom of Feuillant Upper-class temper.
1890. Spectator, 3 May. The upper-class Arabs and Turks.
1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 318. This aristocracy has sub-divisions, the M’pongwe of Gaboon are the upper-circle tribe.
absol. 1898. G. Meredith, Odes Fr. Hist., 12. They, the triumphant tonant towering upper, were under; They, violators of home, dared hope an inviolate home.
9. Consisting of or including more advanced studies or more proficient students; having a higher place or standing in studies or learning.
1629. Wadsworth, Pilgr., iii. 15. The Students of the three vnder schooles, go vp to those of the vpper.
1740. J. Clarke, Educ. Youth (ed. 3), 209. The Boys of the upper Classes may be admitted.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, II. iii. His scholars were divided into two classes, in the upper of which was a young gentleman [etc.].
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. viii. Three unhappy fellows … whom the Doctor and the master of the form were always endeavouring to hoist into the Upper school.
1873. R. S. Holmes, in Rutland (VT) Daily Globe, 17 July, 2/4.
| No longer when I meet a sober Prof | |
| Or upper classman, as at e’en I walk, | |
| Do I my hat in reverence to them doff, | |
| Nor cease an instant from my boisterous talk, | |
| But give a careless nod and onward stalk. |
1897. Flandrau, Harvard Episodes, 202. If they happened to be upper classmen.
10. a. Of a higher, better, more excellent, or more comprehensive quality; superior.
a. 1586. Sidney, De Mornay, ii, ¶ 1. We reduce the particulars too an vnderkind, the vnderkinds to an vpperkind, and the vpperkind to a most generall. As for exainple, we reduce all particular humane persons vnder the terme of man.
1587. Golding, Ibid., x. 163. If the mixture of the Elements cannot make the forme whereby the vpperkyndes differ from one another, as the sencelesse things from the things that haue sence.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., II. ix. Here, then, as I lay in that Centre of Indifference; cast, doubtless by benignant upper Influence, into a healing sleep [etc.].
1895. Marie Corelli, Sorrows Satan, iv. [Genius] is … an ‘upper’ thing, beyond earthly smells and savours.
† b. Upper fortune, the upper hand (cf. 14).
1613. Fletcher, Honest Man’s Fort., I. ii. Since you have the upper fortune of him, ’twill Be some dishonor to you to bear your self with any pride or glory over him.
11. Constituting or producing a higher tone, note, or notes.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVI. 418/2. The upper or female voice part of the scale. Ibid., 419/1. The extreme upper notes of the falsetto.
1880. Grove’s Dict. Music, II. 654/1. The difficulty of hearing the upper partial tones.
1895. Funk’s Stand. Dict., Upper keyboard, the right-hand side of the keyboard.
1896. A. J. Hipkins, Pianoforte, 122. Upper Partial, any partial or simple division of a compound vibrating string that is above the first, or Fundamental.
III. Special collocations.
12. Upper crust: a. The top crust of a loaf. Also transf. † b. The exterior or surface layer of the earth. c. slang. The human head; a hat. d. dial. (See quot.) e. (See quot. 1848.) Chiefly U.S. colloq. (also attrib.).
a. c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 342. Kutt þe vpper crust [of the loaf] for youre souerayne.
1542. Boorde, Dyetary, xi. (1877), 261. Wherfore chyp the vpper crust of your breade.
1591. A. W., Bk. Cookrye, 10 b. Put therto a peece of vpper crust of white bread.
1768. W. Donaldson, Life & Adv. B. Sapskull, II. xv. 108. The upper-crust of that building [the Mansion-house] is thought too heavy for the simple ingredients of an aldermanic pasty.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 32. Alum throws up a flowery paleness upon the whole upper crust.
1868. Furnivall, Babees Bk., 271, margin. The upper crust of a fine loaf.
b. 1555. Eden, Decades, 234. An other kynde of Rubies … found in the mountaynes in the vpper crust or floure of the earth.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1631), 230. It … doth not bury the upper-crust of the ground so deep as usually is done by digging.
1696. Whiston, The. Earth, 53. Such an Upper Crust or Shell of Earth on the face of the Abyss.
1762. Mills, Syst. Pract. Husb., I. 39. When the upper crust of the earth is removed, all that can be seen, or dug, is marle.
c. 1826. Sporting Mag., XVIII. 253. Tom completely tinkered his antagonist’s upper-crust.
1832. Egan, Bk. Sports (Farmer). Sam’s nob had been in pepper alley, and his upper crust was rather changed.
1851. Household Words, II. 320/1. A highly-polished Parisian upper-crust … smashed under the weight of a carter’s slouch.
d. 1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., 371. ‘Mrs. Upper Crust,’ a fictitious designation for any female who assumes unauthorised superiority.
e. 1829. Vermont Patriot, 28 Dec., 3/2. Daniel Webster in our Massachusetts Convention (we think it was there) proclaimed the godlike idea that society was divided into ‘horizontal stata,’—that is, into upper crust & bottom crust.
1836. Haliburton, Clockm., xxviii. It was none o’ your skim-milk parties, but superfine uppercrust real jam. Ibid. (1843), Sam Slick in Eng., xxiv. I want you to see Peel,… Macaulay, old Joe, and so on. These men are all upper crust here.
1848. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., 370. Upper crust, the aristocracy, the higher circles.
1850. J. F. Cooper, Ways of Hour, vi. I. 186. Those families, are our upper crust—not upper ten thousand, as the newspapers call it, but upper hundred.
1898. Daily News, 14 Feb., 2/7. 55 magistrates 46 of whom belonged to what … [is] sometimes called ‘the upper crust.’
13. Upper deck, the highest continuous deck of a ship. (Orig. the higher of two decks, in contrast to the lower.)
1591. Raleigh, Last Fight Reuenge, B 3. Sir Richard … was neuer so wounded as that hee forsooke the vpper decke.
1598. Florio, Dict., To Rdr. 9. I was but one to sit at sterne, to pricke my carde, to watch vpon the vpper decke.
1626. Capt. Smith, Accidence Yng. Seamen, 10. The vpper Decke should be layd with so many beames as are fitting with knees to bind them.
a. 1687. Petty, Treat. Naval Philos., I. i. The Hull under the said upper Deck is divided into the Cavity or Hold [etc.].
1758. J. Blake, Plan Mar. Syst., 2. It is proposed, that … guns run out on the upper deck only.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v. Deep-waisted, To leave a vacant space, called the waist, on the middle of the upper-deck.
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 98. That part of the upper-deck which is between the forecastle and poop … is termed the Main-deck.
1889. E. C. Stedman, in Life W. Sharp (1910), ix. 155. You looked down upon its members from the Servia’s upper-deck.
fig. a. 1613. Overbury, Characters, Saylor, Wks. (1890), 75. Nothing but hunger and hard rockes can convert him, and then but his upper decke neither; for his hold neither feares nor hopes.
attrib. 1909. Lond. Gaz., No. 4521/2. Upon whom we fired … our Upper-deck … Guns.
1892. E. Reeves, Homeward Bound, 129. To give third-class passengers a little breathing upper-deck space.
14. Upper hand: a. The mastery, control, or advantage (of, or over, a person, people, etc.); predominance, rule, or dominion. Usu. const. with verbs, as attain, gain, get, have, obtain. Cf. the earlier OVER-HAND sb., UVER-HAND. (Freq. c. 1560–c. 1600.) b. A person or party in power or authority. c. The place of authority or honor; preference, precedence. (Usu. with give or take.)
a. 1481. Tiptoft, Tulle of Old Age (Caxton), g viij b. Marcus Attilius … had the vppirhande and victorye of the men of cartage.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. ix. 19. Vp Lorde, let not man haue the vpper hande.
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Gl. (Arb.), 64. Downe goeth al, where they [sc. soldiers] get vpper hand.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Little Fr. Lawyer, I. i. I have seen fools, and fighters, chain’d together, And the Fighters had the upper hand, and whipt first, The poor Sots laughing at ’em.
1690. Somers, Vind. Proc. Late Parlt., 10. The Jacobites, and the Malecontents … might perhaps get the upper hand, if not prevented in time.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., III. 479. Where ev’ry ranger of the wilds, perhaps Each reptile, justly claims our upper hand.
1743. Pococke, Descr. East, I. 177. When the Greeks got the upper hand,… they treated them with great rigour.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xv. I’ve got the upper-hand over you.
1861. Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xiii. 195. They blindly followed the dictates of the faction which had the upper-hand.
1865. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett. (1883), III. 303. I decided to take the upper hand with her, and keep it.
transf. (of things). 1535. Coverdale, Wisdom x. 5. Whan wickednes had gotten ye vpper-hande, so yt the nacions were puft vp with pryde.
1546. Bp. Gardiner, Detect. Devil’s Sophistrie, 16. Whiles the bely hath the vpperhande amonge a greate many.
1579. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 87. Summer gettith the upperhande of wynter, and wynter agayne of summer.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gent., xv. 186. Hereby the minde getteth the dominion and vpperhand.
1712. Pope, Spect., No. 408, ¶ 3. If a Man suffers them [sc. the passions] to get the upper hand.
1796. Mme. D’Arblay, Camilla, I. 289. Sir Hugh … said it never broke out from him but by accident, which … should never get the upper hand again.
1873. Mrs. Oliphant, Innocent, 111. 160. The natural honesty to which he had appealed gained the upper hand.
1885. Manch. Exam., 29 June, 5/1. The worst tendencies of the party will gain the upper hand.
b. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 126. The poore inhabitauntes … were … compelled to yeilde and rendre theimselfes, to the more power, and vpper hande.
1606. Sir G. Goosecappe, I. iv. One of these painted communities, that are rauisht with Coaches, and vpper hands.
c. 1580–3. Greene, Mamillia, Wks. (Grosart), II. 49. If by chaunce the Vestal virgins walkt abroad, the Senators would giue them the vpper hand.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 68. They … gaue vs and Duke Ieroslaus the vpper hand, when we were abroad in their companie.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 9. The Priestaf gave the Ambassadours the upper Hand, and conducted them to the Inn.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 25 Jan. A late dispute between my Lord Chesterfield … and Mr. Edward Montagu … who should have the precedence in taking the Queen’s upper-hand abroad out of the house.
1715. Lond. Gaz., No. 5329/1. The Empress … gave the upper Hand to the [Dowager] Empress Amalia.
1746. Francis, trans. Hor., Sat., II. v. 26. Yet wait upon him, at his least command, And always bid him take the upper hand.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. ii. ¶ 9. [At] the second table … the whole household … insisted on giving me the upper hand.
fig. 1594. Shaks., Rich. III., IV. iv. 37. If ancient sorrow be most reuerent, Giue mine the benefit of signeurie, And let my greefes frowne on the vpper hand.
d. adv. (See quots., and cf. UNDERHAND adv. 2 c.)
1771. Luckombe, Hist. Print., 333. The Nut and Spindle, and the Toe of the Spindle, are all to be well oiled; that they may all perform their several offices the easier…; both Upper and Under hand.
1808. Stower, Printer’s Gram., 530. When the spindle goes soft and easy,… it goes well upper hand or above hand.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., s.v.
e. Hence Upperhandism. nonce-word. [-ISM 2 b.]
1845. E. B. Barrett, Lett. to R. Browning (1899), I. 26. The curious thing in this world is not the stupidity, but the upperhandism of the stupidity.
15. Upper house, a higher house of deliberation or legislation, esp. the House of Lords.
1532–3. Act 24 Hen. VIII., c. 12 § 4. The Spirituall Prelatez and other Abbottes and Priours of the upper House assembled … in the Convocacion.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commonw. Eng., II. ii. (1584), 38. Besides the Chauncelor, there is one in the vpper house who is called Clarke of the Parliament.
1640. Yorke, Union Hon., 66. Which was concluded in the upperhouse of Parliament.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, II. (1693), 180. The Bishops … intended that this Petition … should be preferred to the King … in the Upper House of Parliament.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. (1710), 481. A List of the Members of the Upper-House of Convocation.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Convocation, Things are first usually propos’d in the upper House; then communicated to the lower.
1818. Bentham, Ch. Eng., p. x. The Lower House was indeed untaxable. But the Upper House … taxed themselves.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iii. I. 325. The abolition of the monasteries deprived the Church … of her predominance in the upper house of parliament.
1859. W. Swainson, New Zealand, xi. 289. The Legislative Council, or Upper House.
1885. Lowe, Bismarck, I. 293. The Lower Chamber would not yield an inch to the Crown and the Upper House.
attrib. 1610. Bolton, Elem. Armories, 150. Or should I not doe wrong to Campes, and Parliaments, robbing souldiers, and vpper-house men of their colour?
16. Upper leather: a. Leather forming the upper of a boot or shoe; also, = UPPER sb. 1. b. Sheet-leather suitable or prepared for such.
a. 1528. Roy Rede me (Arb.), 82. Ief. To mangill their good shues so, Me thynketh it but folisshnes. Wat. They cutt but the vpper ledder.
1603–4. Act 1 Jas. I, c. 22 § 23. The upper Leather of any Shooes, Startups, &c.
1708. Ockley, Saracens, I. 142. Those who had strong Boots on,… had the Soals torn off from the Upper-Leathers.
1759. Phil. Trans., LI. 39. With that shoe struck off, and its upper-leather torn.
1841. Penny Cycl., XXI. 410/2. The lasting or tacking of the upper-leather to the in-sole.
1846. Thackeray, Laman Blanchard, Wks. 1899, XIII. 467. Persons who … polish their upper-leathers as well as they can.
1872. T. Hardy, Under Greenw. Tree, II. ii. The upper-leather of a Wellington-boot.
fig. 1647. N. Ward, Simple Cobler (title-p.), Willing to help ’mend his Native Country, lamentably tattered, both in the upper Leather and sole.
b. 1629. Leather, 12. The … strongest, which might … serue both for sooling leather and vpper leather. Ibid., 15. The Market is full of excellent Leather (strong Backes, and good vpper Leathers).
1885. Harper’s Mag., Jan., 278/1. Upper-leather … is sold by the foot or pound.
17. Upper lip: a. The lip on the upper side of the mouth; the superior lip of a person, animal, or insect. b. The higher of the two edges of an organ-pipe mouth. c. Bot. The superior or upper division of a bilabiate corolla or calyx. d. spec. (See UNDERLIP 1 b.)
a. 1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 77. He can yll pype, that lacth his vpper lyp.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 635/1. That noe man shall weare his bearde but onely on the upper lipp like muschachoes.
1611. Bible, Lev. xiii. 45. The leper … shall put a couering vpon his vpper lip.
1670. Milton, Hist. Eng., VI. 304. The English then useing to let grow on their upper-lip large Mustachio’s.
1704. Dict. Rust., s.v. Rules buying Horses, If his Upper-Lip will not reach his Nether.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VI. 387. Which made John’s upper-lip … rise to his nose.
1758. J. S., trans. Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 42. It possessed the whole Upper-Lip.
1815. Massachusetts Spy, 14 June, 4/4. I kept a stiff upper lip, and bought license to sell my goods.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., III. xxxiii. 355. Labrum (the Upper-lip), a usually moveable organ; which … is situate between the Mandibulæ.
1833–. [see LIP sb. 2, STIFF a. 11].
1836. Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, I. 378. [The loach] with four barbules or cirri … on the upper lip in the front.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, xxiii. He had the shorter nose and longer upper-lip of his sister.
b. 1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Organ, Over this Aperture is the Mouth…; whose upper Lip…, being level, cuts the Wind as it comes out at the Aperture.
1852. Seidel, Organ, 78. The upper lip … forming, together with the under lip, the mouth of the pipe.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 1709/2. The lower edge of the leaf is termed the upper lip.
c. 1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., Salvia … hath a labiated Flower, consisting of one Leaf, whose Upper-lip is sometimes arched.
1793. Martyn, Lang. Bot., Galea (an helmet), the upper lip of a ringent corolla.
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), III. 555. Digitalis purpurea.… Segments of the calyx egg-shaped, acute:… upper lip nearly entire.
1807. J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 434. Ajuga [has] scarcely any upper lip at all.
18. Upper ten, the upper classes; the aristocracy. colloq. Orig. (U.S.) upper ten thousand.
(a) 1844. N. P. Willis, in Even. Mirror (N. Y.), 11 Nov., 2/1. At present there is no distinction among the upper ten thousand of the city.
1852. Bristed (title), Upper Ten Thousand.
1861. Lever, One of Them, xix. 149. The Peerage,… the bulky volume that records the alliances and the ages of the ‘upper ten thousand.’
1871. Punch, 15 May, 187/2. There was no grievance on the part of the ‘upper ten thousand.’
(b) 1848. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., 370. The upper ten thousand, and contracted, the upper ten,… the upper circles of our large cities.
1860. W. H. Russell, Diary in India, I. 119. Petty jealousy and ‘caste’ reigned in the Residency; the ‘upper ten’ with stoical grandeur would die the ‘upper ten.’
1886. C. E. Pascoe, Lond. of To-day, xxxii. (ed. 3), 294. Clubs of some note … patronized by the ‘upper ten.’
[1890. Rider Haggard, Beatrice, xi. Plenty of carriages, and other needful things, including of course the entrée to the upper celestial ten.]
transf. 1879. Jefferies, Wild Life, 160. Neither is he [sc. the robin] a favourite with the upper class of cottagers—for there is an ‘upper ten’ even among cottagers.
b. Hence Upper-tendom, prec. Chiefly U.S.
1855. Doesticks, xvi. 131. I did go to a ball for the benefit of the poor—a two-dollar commingling of upper-tendom with lower-twentydom.
1863. N. Hawthorne, Our Old Home, II. 199. All the girls, whether daughters of the uppertendom, the mediocrity, the cottage, or the kennel.
1887. [W. F. Rae], Miss Bayle’s Romance, xvi. 126. This countess belongs to the real upper tendom.
19. Upper works: a. That part of a vessel that is above water-level when it is ready or laden for a voyage; = DEAD-WORK 1. (Also † upper work.) b. The higher portion of a structure. c. slang. The head; the mental capacity.
a. 1591. Raleigh, Last Fight Reuenge, B 3 b. The mastes all beaten ouer board,… her vpper worke altogither rased.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xi. 52. She is brought in narrow to her vpper workes.
1693. Lond. Gaz., No. 2865/1. The French Man of War … who fought the Berkeley Castle … being very leaky,… and all her upper Work torn to pieces.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 270. To caulk the Ship’s Upper-Works and Decks.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (s.v.), Upper-work.
1798. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), III. 106. The Sérieuse was set on fire to burn her upper works which were above water.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 157. Upper works,… all that part which may be considered as separated from the bottom by the main wale.
1898. Kipling, Fleet in Being, i. 7. The battleships overtook us, their white upperworks showing like icebergs as they topped the sea-line.
fig. 1751. Smollett, P. Pickle, vi. I’d have you take care of your upper works; for if once you are made fast to her poop, egad, she’ll … make every beam in your body crack with straining.
b. 1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 60. The object was to repair or restore the Upper Works.
c. 1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, III. iii. ¶ 12. Arsenia and Florimonde are not strong in their upper works; but then they have a facility in their vocation which is more than all the wit in the world.
1818. Sporting Mag., July, 167. Neate gave Oliver … a … hit on his mouth, that his upper works were in a complete state of chaos.
1860. J. P. Kay-Shuttleworth, Scarsdale, II. 299. Oi’m i’ gradely fettle … i’ th’ upper warks.
