[UP- 2, 3.]
A. sb. 1. One who has newly or suddenly risen in position or importance; a new-comer in respect of rank or consequence; a parvenu; = START-UP sb. 1.
1555. Instit. Gentl., C iiij b. These gentlemen are nowe called vpstartes, a terme lately inuented by such as pondered not ye grounds of honest means of rising or commyng to promocion.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. 46 b. The newe vpstart; that takes vpon him the name of a gentleman.
1592. Greene, Vpst. Courtier, B 4. Mary gyp goodman vpstart, who made your father a gentleman?
1641. Milton, Reform., II. 74. Then shall the Nobles possesse all the Dignities … without the improper mixture of Scholastick and pusillanimous upstarts.
1691. Hartcliffe, Virtues, 39. An Upstart was to bear himself otherwise in his Petition, than … an ancient Nobleman.
1747. Richardson, Clarissa (1768), I. xl. 270. None but the prosperous upstart Mushroom’d into rank … was arrogantly proud of it.
1777. J. Adams, Fam. Lett. (1876), 307. There are rascally upstarts in trade, I doubt not, who have made great fortunes in a small period.
1825. Macaulay, Ess., Milton, ¶ 43. Gods … compared with whom Jupiter himself was a stripling and an upstart.
1858. Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 167. The Duke of Norfolk … disdained the dictation of an unknown upstart.
1888. Bryce, Amer. Commw., III. lxxxvii. 16. The Greeks thought that the old families ruled their households more gently than upstarts did.
transf. 1613. Purchas, Pilgrim. (1614), 319. If it seeme strange, that the Turkish Religion (a newer vpstart) be declared before those former.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xlvii. 123. The Empire perceiving … the youthfull courage of this upstart, was glad to enter mutuall league with it.
1791. Cowper, Yardley Oak, 134. Yonder upstarts of the neighb’ring wood, So much thy juniors.
1834. Tracts for Times, No. 29. 5. All the meetings [= Dissenting sects] are … in one sense, upstarts.
2. † a. An upward start or spring. Obs.–1
1645. Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith, vi. 43. The upstarts and boylings of corruption and the flesh that are mixed with our Prayers.
b. dial. (See quot.)
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Upstart, the deep impression of a horse’s foot in a clayey soil, soon filled up with water, which, when another horse happens to tread in the very same place, starts upwards and plentifully bespatters the rider.
† 3. Upspring, origin. Obs.–1
1669. Penn, No Cross, xi. (1682), 219. All Men and Families … have had their Upstarts, that is, their Beginnings.
4. Sc. A stick forming a support for a thatched roof. ? Obs.
1811. W. Aiton, View Agric. Ayrs., 114 (Jam.). Over these were hung sticks … called cabbers; and smaller ones set on the top of the wall were termed upstarts.
5. The meadow-saffron, Colchicum Autumnale.
1852. E. Hamilton, Flora Homœopath., I. 199. Common Meadow Satiron, Tuber Root,… Upstart.
1863. Prior, Plant-n., 232. Upstart, from its flowers starting up suddenly from the ground without putting out leaves first.
B. adj. 1. Of things: Lately come into existence or notice; new-fangled.
1565. Stapleton, Fortr. Faith, 9. The grounde and foundation of all your vpsterte ghospell. Ibid., 94. Their small secret, and late vpstert congregation.
1593. Bilson, Govt. Christ’s Ch., 286. This up-start fansie is far from God’s ordinance.
1607. J. Norden, Surv. Dial., I. 18. Surveying … is an upstart arte found out of late.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 5. Not daring to infuse into so solid a judgement their upstart and erroneous fancies.
1697. J. Potter, Antiq. Greece, I. iv. 19. All their Laws were repeal’d, and the upstart Form of Government utterly dissolv’d.
1710. Swift, Right of Precedence, 23. Physick is as old as the Occasion of it;… which can by no means be said of the other, in comparison, Upstart Profession.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), II. 62. Christianity was despised as … an upstart thing.
1853. Hawthorne, Twice-told T., i. Now, the old aristocratic edifice hides its time-worn visage behind an upstart modern building.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 365. The upstart naval power of Rome in the West.
b. Characteristic of upstarts.
a. 1593. Marlowe, Edw. II., I. iv. 336. Think you that we can brooke this vpstart pride?
1603. B. Jonson, Sejanus, V. viii. It is a note Of vpstart greatnesse, to … watch For these poore trifles.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 687. His Death was … rejoyced at by those who envyed his new and upstart Rising.
1727. Gay, Fables, I. xxiv. How insolent is upstart pride!
1788. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlvii. IV. 550. He dreaded their upstart ambition.
1817. Cobbett, Pol. Reg., 25 Jan., 99. The upstart pride of those who call themselves the gentlefolk of Manchester.
1823. Hazlitt, Table-t., Ser. II. iv. 66. I do not desire to be driven out of my conclusions … merely to make way for his upstart pretensions.
2. Of persons, families, etc.: Lately or suddenly risen to prominence or dignity.
1566. Stapleton, Ret. Untr. Jewel, I. 8. Your late vpstert inasters of Germany and Geneua.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 260. He will … passe vp and down the streates of London in a side gowne, like vnto some newe vp-start Legist.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 88. It is more safe to side with the old Legions led by Galen,… then with new and vpstart Nouices.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 383. The Covenants … were found fault with by malitious and upstart People.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., I. 175. Some Authors thus his Pedigree will trace, But others write him of an upstart Race.
1740. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 123. Ours is no upstart family; but is as ancient as the best in the kingdom.
1791. Burke, App. Whigs, Wks. VI. 19. Scorn and contumely of their upstart masters.
1836. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xiii. 166. An obscure and upstart race or shepherds.
1879. Tourgee, Fool’s Err., xxxviii. 271. When reproved … by an upstart superior, he had the boldness [etc.].
† 3. Rising on end. Obs.–1
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. x. 54. He … ran away,… With vpstart haire, and staring eyes dismay.
Hence Upstartism, Upstartness. nonce-words.
1836. Citing Philad. Gaz., in Newbern (NC), Spect., 16 Dec., 3/3. Sir,—Equally detesting, as I most cordially do, both upstartism and literary empiricism, I cannot consent to compromise the Commercial Advertiser, by puffing the Southern Literary Messenger.
1838. Blackw. Mag., XLIII. 311. That spirit of upstartness which … characterises all French youth.
1881. Nat. Rev., Oct., 406. These latter [ballads] are all broad satires on upstartism.
