1. Up tails all, the name of an old song and its tune. Also used allusively (see TAIL sb.1 5, 5 c).
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., I. iii. Hang sorrow, care will kill a cat, vp-tailes all, and a poxe on the hangman.
1607. Sharpham, Fleire (1610), F j b. Shee euerie day sings Iohn for the king, and at Vp-tailes all, shees perfect.
1610. R. Vaughan, Water-Workes, K 2. Though I am no Poet yet I can make Ballads, To the tune of vp-tayls-all.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., Up tailes all, For love he doth call For his Uptailes all; And that’s the part to be acted.
1697. Vanbrugh, Prov. Wife, V. iii. Mademoiselle. Why, what be de matter? Rasor. The matter? Why, uptails all’s the matter … My lady has cuckolded my master.
2. a. (With all.) A jovial fellow; a reveller.
1602. Dekker, Satyrom., I 2 b. Feele (my light-vptailes all) feele my weapon.
b. A woman.
1671. Crowne, Juliana, III. 26. How I shall laugh to see the little pretty uptails come to make a home-thrust at a man.
3. A card-game.
1694. Poor Robin, Dec. B 7 b. Whisk, Uptails, Sant, New-Cut,… With other Games besides, the which I know not.
