prep. phrase. Obs. Forms: 6–7 vpsy, vpsey, vpse, vpsie, 7 vpsee; 7 upsy, upsi, upse, upzee, 7–8 upsey. [ad. Du. op zijn (= pp sei), lit. ‘on his (her, or its),’ used in such expressions as op zijn Vriesch, ‘in the Frisian fashion.’] In the … fashion; after the … manner.
I. In the phrases upsy Friese, Dutch, English, ‘after the Frisian, German (or Dutch), English fashion,’ used originally with reference to modes or habits of drinking.
A. Upsy Friese. 1. adv. Deeply, heavily, to excess.
The phrase also occurs as the name of a tune (a. 1627) in Historie of Fryer Bacon. The reason for the addition of crosse in quot. 1592 is not clear.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, E iv. He is no body that cannot drinke super nagulum, carouse the Hunters hoop, quaffe upsey freze crosse.
1601. [? Marston], Jack Drums Entert., II. D 4 b. Powre Wine,… Drinke Duch like gallants, lets drinke vpsey freeze.
1606. Dekker, Sev. Sins, I. (Arb.), 12. They … were drunke, according to all the learned rules of Drunkennes, as Vpsy-Freeze, Crambo, Parmizant, &c.
1635. Heywood, Philocoth., 65. To drinke Vpse-phreese.
b. Thoroughly; entirely; quite.
1598–9. B. Jonson, Case is Altered, IV. iii. Tut, no more of this surquedry; I am thine own ad unguem, upsie freeze, pell mell.
2. sb. A mode of drinking or carousing.
1590. Lodge, Euphues Gold. Leg., D 2. After they had feasted and frolickt it twise or thrise with an vpsey freeze.
1600. Nashe, Summer’s Last Will, F j b. A vous, mounsieur Winter, a frolick vpsy freese, crosse, ho, super nagulum.
1603. Dekker, Dead Term, A 4 b. At his [i.e., the Dutchman’s] owne weapon of Vpsie freeze will they dare him.
b. Intoxicating liquor. rare. (Cf. C.)
1648. Canterburie March, B 3. Fill me a cup of upsy-frize To joy our Friends.
3. adj. Inclined or addicted to carousing. rare–1.
1631. J. Done, Polydoron, 105. The Saylor is reasonable at Sea and cannot abide Whistling; but at Land they [sc. soldiers and sailors] are both upzeefreeze.
Hence Upsy-friese v., to drain or empty (a pot of liquor); Upsy-friesy a., addicted to drinking deeply.
1617. J. Taylor (Water P.), Trav. to Hamburgh, B 2. My company and my selfe went to a Dutch drinking-schoole, and … vpsefreez’d foure pots of boone beere.
1622. Massinger & Dekker, Virg. Martyr, II. i. Bacchus … grand patron of rob-pots, upsy-freesy tipplers, and super-naculum iakers.
B. Upsy Dutch. 1. adv. = prec. 1.
1607. Dekker, Knt.’s Conjur. (1842), 29. He … swore he could find in his heart to goe presently (hauing drunk vpsy Dutch).
1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, III. i. Sit downe Lads, And drink me upsey-Dutch.
a. 1634. Chapman, Alphonsus, III. i. (1654), 30. We’l spend this evening lustie upsie Dutch, In honour of this unexpected league.
1670. Davenant & Dryden, Tempest, IV. 62. I will pledge your Grace Up se Dutch.
b. In general use.
a. 1634. Chapman, Alphonsus, II. ii. (1654), 18. Then kiss your hand three times upsy Dutch.
1721. D’Urfey, Athenian Jilt, Operas, etc., 165. And now do’s upsey Dutch endeavour To make himself more valu’d be By bragging or his Family.
2. adj. Suggestive of having drunk too deeply; heavy.
1610. B. Jonson, Alch., IV. vi. I doe not like the dulnesse of your eye: It hath a heauy cast, ’tis vpsee Dutch, And say’s you are a lumpish whore-master.
C. Upsy English (cf. Upsy Friese 2 b).
1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, IV. iv. Prig. I for the structure, Which is the bowl. Hig. Which must be up-sey English, Strong, lusty, London beer.
II. In other uses.
1. Upsevant muff (cf. Du. want mitten, and MUFF sb.1, sb.2], ? like a fur cap.
1591. Nashe, Introd. Sidney’s Astr. & Stella, A iv b. An Asse is no great stateman in the beastes common-wealth, though he weare his eares vpsenant muffe, after the Muscouy fashion.
2. As adj. or adv. Extreme(ly), ultra.
1650. A. B., Mutatus Polemo, 10. He that even now was upsie Cavaleer high Royalists.
1694. Locke, in Ld. King, Life (1830), I. 383. He that reads this act [for licensing printing] with attention will find it upse ecclesiastical.
3. As prep. In or after the manner of.
1663. Killigrew, Pars. Wedding, IV. i. Yes, faith, they have treated her upsey Whore, lain with her.
