sb. (adv.) [f. TOP sb.1 + SIDE sb.1] a. gen. The upper side of anything.
1672. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., i. 27. This Bolt must be wrought straight on all its sides, except the Topside.
b. Shipbuilding. The upper part of a ship’s side: cf. TOP-TIMBER. Also attrib.
1815. [see TOP sb.1 7].
1836. Marryat, Pirate, iv. She is … taking it in at the topsides.
1874. Thearle, Naval Archit., 49. At the present day we hear only of topside planking, wales, bottom plank, and garboards.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., Topside-line,… a sheer line drawn above the top timber at the upper side of the gunwale.
1889. Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., vi. 96. The transverse frames … are continuous from topside to topside across the keel.
1903. Daily Chron., 21 Feb., 9/4. With nickel-steel top-sides and a bronze under-body, the boat will be the first composition yacht since the Defender.
c. Butchering. The outer side of a round of beef, cut from the haunch between the ‘leg’ and the ‘aitch-bone’; the bottom of this is the ‘silver-side.’
1898. Westm. Gaz., 25 Feb., 5/2. In schools, where topsides and legs of mutton are the chief supply, the price would be proportionately less.
d. Billiards. = TOP sb.1 19.
1904. Mannock, Billiards Expounded, I. 163. ‘Top side’ is, as its title would suggest, gained by hitting the cue-ball as high up as possible.
e. Phr. Topside down, topsides under, upside down. rare.
1725. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., s.v. Miroton, Let it be well clear’d from the Fat, and laid Topside-down in the Dish.
1872. W. Morris, in Mackail, Life (1899), I. 288. Unless the world turns topsides under, some day.
B. adv. On the top. Also fig. colloq.
1873. Leland, Egypt. Sketch Bk., 89. Will the big nigger sit … top-side of the carriage, or on the locomotive?
1893. Westm. Gaz., 29 Sept., 2/3. Straining every nerve to keep ‘top-side’ in China.
1899. F. T. Bullen, Way Navy, 85. Ali the privileges attaching to those who work ‘topside’ in a ship of war.
