A. adv. 1. Alternately on or to a higher and a lower level or plane. Also in fig. context.
c. 1205. Lay., 14276. He bi-heold þene wal up and dun ouer al.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2233. Þat ai quen we se ani chesun, Freli [we] may climb vp and dun.
c. 1340. Ayenb., 246. Þe lheddre … huerby þe angles … cliue op and doun.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xxxi. 139. Fendez … fliez vp and doune in þe aer with grete thunders.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 1669. I fel ytt ster In my wombe vp and down.
1559. W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glasse, 29. Then rayse vp and downe the ruler … vnto the sonne.
1583. Hollyband, Campo di Fior, 27. Washe your mouth, and do the water up and downe in your throate.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., XII. lii. Tost up and down in waves of worldly floud.
1680. in W. Hacke, Coll. Voy. (1699), III. 7. Which Ebbs and Flows here two Fathom up and down.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 192. The short Cilinder … is moved up and down in the Barrel of the Pump.
1820. Byron, Juan, V. lxxviii. Wrestling both his arms into a gown, He paused, and took a survey up and down.
1889–91. [see STARE v. 2 c].
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 402. The action is up and down, without vibration.
fig. c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 659. She … gan to casten and rollen vp and down with-inne here þought his excellent prowesse.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun (Roxb.), 149. Sekeing oft vp and doune of deth fande thay cause none rightwise.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, X. ii. 100. All the hevynly wychtis dyd quhyspir and roun, In opynyonys full diuers, wp and doun.
1584. D. Fenner, Def. Min. (1587), 121. Although he knewe … the meaning of them, yet he turneth them vppe and downe as if they were riddles.
b. fig. With variation of success or fortune.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, I. 2718. Ay the tribut & seruage off the toun Procedith foorth, thei constreyned wer so sore, Lich as ther lott turned up and doun.
† c. fig. (In predicative use, passing into adj.) Varying, changeable, unstable. Obs.
1643. Caryl, Sacr. Covt., 36. It is … most unsutable … for us to be up and downe, forward and backward, likeing and disliking, like that Double-minded man.
1645. Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith, 16. Men naturally beleeve, though they be but up and down with Christ, yet Christ doth so bear them at goodwill, as [etc.].
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., iv. 38. His Love to thee will not be as thine was … to him, seldom and cold, up and down.
2. Hither and thither; to and fro; backward and forward.
a. 1200. Moral Ode, 240, in O. E. Hom., I. 175. Ho … walkeð weri up and dun, se water deþ mid winde.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 11513. Wiþ him to wende aboute, to sywe him vp & doun.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4034. He ȝede yn hys celle vp and down.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nun’s Pr. T., 359. On hise toos he rometh vp and doun.
c. 1440. Cast. Persev., 2519. Up & doun þou take þe wey.
1508. Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 84. There saw I May … Within the gardyng walking vp and doun.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., 93 b. The enymyes were scouring up and downe in the Sea.
1659. Pell, Impr. Sea, 55. Many of you walk up and down in the ships you have command of.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Fables (1694), 251. You are so … given to squirting up and down, and chattering, that [etc.].
1713. Addison, Cato, III. i. Life wanders up and down Through all her Face, and lights up ev’ry Charm.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (ed. 3), I. 187. She is up and down so much, that I am afraid of her surprising me.
1811. Byron, Hints fr. Hor., 478. And boys shall hunt your bardship up and down.
1872. Tennyson, Last Tourn., 647. Pacing moodily up and down.
3. Here and there; at various points; esp. in several or diverse places throughout a district, country, etc.
In very frequent use from c. 1635 to 1700.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11444. Þai … spird him efter vp and dun.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 210. What availeth suche a longe sermon Of auentures of love vp and dovne.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, I. ii. (1905), 18. He … liu’d obscurely vp and downe in boothes, and taphouses.
1680. R. L’Estrange, Citt & Bumpkin (ed. 3), 3. We had our Agents at all Publick Meetings,… all the Schools up and down.
1712. Budgell, Spect., No. 277, ¶ 13. With several Ribbons stuck up and down in it.
1760. C. Johnston, Chrysal (1822), III. 37. A few of the eldest … gathered up and down into little sets.
1855. Browning, Fra Lippo Lippi, 41. Brother Lippo’s doings, up and down, You know them?
b. Throughout the works of an author or authors.
1668. H. More, Div. Dial., IV. ix. 31. Intimated up and down in the Gospels by our Blessed Saviour.
1698. T. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 35. To relate all the Witticisms scattered up and down in the Books of the Cabalists, about this Word.
1699. Boyer, Fr. Dict., Centon,… a Poem made up of several Pieces pick’d up and down from the Works of others.
4. Upside-down; topsy-turvy. Also fig. Now s.w. dial.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Trastornadura, ouerthrowing, turning vp and downe.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon, Pref. (1602), A 3 b. The Germaines (where the imperiall triple Crowne of Caesar yet remaines vp and downe).
1634. Malory’s Arthur, I. cxiv. Z 4 b. Syre launcelot charged so sore vpon him that his horse reuersed vp and downe.
1888–92. in Somerset and Devon dialect (Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v.).
5. In or into a vertical position; vertically.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. 80. Set the end of the Cross-Staff to the outside of the Eye,… holding it right up and down.
1697. Dampier, Voy., I. x. 298. A long Yard that peeks up and down like a Mizen-yard.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. i. 112. We hove the cable right up and down.
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 132. The … cable … had been hawled in so tight as to keep the swivel from striking the ground, when right up and down.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 574. In anchor work, when the cable is in that condition, the boatswain calls, ‘Up and down, sir.’ Ibid., 707.
6. In every respect; entirely, thoroughly, completely. Now dial.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 291 b. He was even Socrates up and down in this poincte…, yt noman ever sawe hym either laugh or wepe.
1579–80. North, Plutarch (1595), 170. His eloquent tongue, and ready vtterance,… in those he was Pisistratus vp and downe.
1620. Middleton, Chaste Maid, III. ii. It has the mother’s mouth. The mother’s mouth up and down.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xi. This is the Pharisee up and down, ‘I am not as other men are.’
1832. J. Barrington, Personal Sk., III. 224. God bless him, up and down, wherever he goes, here or hereafter!
1878–89. in dialect glossaries, etc. (Cumbld., Lanc., Linc.).
† b. Altogether; in all. Obs.–1
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 215. What comth our meate to? foure shyllyngs vp and downe.
7. U. S. colloq. In a straightforward or blunt manner; acting in this way. (Cf. C. 2 b).
1869. Mrs. Stowe, Oldtown Folks, xx. Talk about coddling! it’s little we get o’ that, the way the Lord fixes things in this world…. He’s pretty up and down with us, by all they tell us.
1891. Cent. Dict., s.v. Up, To handle a matter up and down; to talk up and down.
B. prep. 1. a. Backward and forward in; to and fro along or upon.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 1575. Þe halle in soth sche walkyth vp and down.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 31. You shall haue a pretie litle boye, runnyng vp and doune youre house.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 334. The Lordes counsayled the king … to rowe vp and down the ryuer.
1645. Pagitt, Heresiogr. (ed. 2), 32. They wandred up and downe the Countreyes without staves.
1676[?]. Lady Chaworth, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 34. She … is pulled up and down the ponds in them [sc. sledges] every day.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 96, ¶ 3. I was strolling up and down the Walks in the Temple.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 230. Every Person of any Account goes up and down them [sc. streets] either on Horseback or in a Chair.
1820. Southey, Wesley, I. 405. Under such feelings he wandered up and down the fields.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 269. Accompanying James in his last walk, up and down the Mall.
1896. Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 615/1. A red light was automatically shown up and down the line.
b. Here and there in or upon; in several parts of or diverse places throughout.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 113. She sayes vp & downe the town, that her eldest son is like you.
1640. H. Spelman, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 264. They that to prevent my election, published up and downe some Colledges that … [I] had declined the choice.
1675. Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 309. They have frequently acknowledged it to be an everlasting covenant, as is evident up and down the Scripture.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 11, ¶ 4. Sprinkled up and down the Writings of all Ages.
1834. Medwin, Angler in Wales, I. 33. The eyes … in some insects amount to six or seven thousand, and spread up and down the body as on the spider.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 444. Early in August hints … were whispered up and down London.
1894. Times, 4 June, 6/2. To gather into one collected whole statements scattered at present all up and down your columns.
2. Alternately on or to a higher and lower plane in or upon.
1665. Hooke, Microgr., 202. A certaine white substance … may be observ’d to fly up and down the Air.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, 250. The danger … of carrying a load up and down mountains.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (ed. 3), I. 201. The Maid Nan … asked if any thing was the matter, that I was so often up and down stairs?
1855. [J. R. Leifchild], Cornwall, 153. Along levels, and up and down winzes (ventilating openings), the air is coursing.
1859. F. E. Paget, Curate of Cumberworth, 62. The whole herd, tearing up and down the hill side.
C. adj. (Now usually hyphened.)
1. Directed, occurring, or taking place, alternately upward and downward.
1616. Chapman, trans. Musæus, D 6 b. With vp and down-lookes, whetting his desire.
1795. Phil. Trans., LXXXV. 587. The up-and-down motion in walking.
1834. Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VIII. 748/2. The up-and-down action is communicated to this machine by chains.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, etc., 1110. These faller wires. are guided truly in their up-and-down motions … by a cleaner-plate.
1874. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., v. 121. To insure getting an ‘up and down cast’ [of the lead].
1883. Black’s Guide Devon. (ed. 11), 175. From here to Brendon Church … is 21/2 miles of very up-and-down travelling.
transf. 1808. Vancouver, Agric. Devon, 100. Farming tenantry … rent … from 200 to 300 acres of land, the greater part of which is subject to a system of up-and-down husbandry.
b. Adapted or used for hauling up and down.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, II. 281. A chain, called an up-and-down span.
1860. Nares, Seamanship, 37. What tackles are used? A luff and an up-and-down.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 708. Up-and-down tackle.
c. Of persons: That hauls, goes, works, etc., up and down.
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, III. 247/1. ‘Up-and-down men,’ or coalwhippers, as they are usually called.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 10 April, 2/1. A man, a cook-housemaid, an up-and-down girl.
d. fig. Alternately rising and falling; presenting variations comparable to movement up and down.
1812. Byron, Waltz, Ep. A d—d see-saw up-and-down sort of tune.
1819. Metropolis, I. 104. Uneven measures, sportiveness and fancy must lead them [sc. poets] … an up and down dance.
1889. Spectator, 14 Dec., 839. Even the free-living artist Fra Lippo Lippi talks in Browning’s sudden, impatient, up-and-down style.
2. Perpendicular; straight up, erect; very steep.
c. 1710. Celia Fiennes, Diary (1888), 232. Its such an Enclosed Country, and such up and down steep hills.
1817. H. T. Colebrooke, Algebra, etc., 15. Repeat the operation till the up and down line contain but two quantities.
1894. C. N. Robinson, Brit. Fleet, 278. The Warrior and Defence classes had plain up and down cutwaters.
1897. Daily News, 21 Sept., 3/2. With clothes hanging in folds upon her up-and-down figure.
b. U.S. Direct, straightforward, downright.
1836. Haliburton, Clockm., Ser. I. xxxvi. No strong-minded, straight-a-head, right up and down man does that.
1869. Mrs. H. B. Stowe, Oldtown Folks, xxiv. A well-preserved, up-and-down, positive, cheery, sprightly maiden lady.
1896. Peterson Mag., Jan., 94/2. The two women folks … finally had an up-and-down row.
3. Having an uneven or irregular surface; consisting of ups and downs.
1775. S. J. Pratt, Liberal Opin., cxxiii. (1783), IV. 133. Very few gentlemen … come to such a d—m—d up-and-down place as this.
1830. Colman, Random Records, 202. Durham,… a strange up-and-down Episcopal City.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., vi. [My room] was of this kind, with an up-and-down roof.
1893. A. Austin, Lamia’s Winter Quarters, 49. He lived in an up-and-down hamlet among the hills.
b. fig. Marked by alternations of success, etc.; changeful, variable.
1907. A. Ransome, Bohemia in London, 200. It is an up-and-down-life, my friends.
4. Taking place to and fro or backward and forward; spent in moving about.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. I. 111. She has, in the course of an up-and-down life, met with a good many authors.
1876. Preece & Sivewright, Telegraphy, 292. What is called up and down working; that is,… each station sending alternately one or several messages.
1884. Sala, Journ. due South, II. i. The perpetual up-and-down flowing of the crowd.
5. In collocations arising from an ellipse of the sb. after up: a. Pugilism. (See quots.)
1840. Blaine, Encycl. Rural Sports, 1218. That species of contest, called up and down fighting, that is, when a man is got down he is kept down and punished till incapable of motion.
1863. Kingsley, Water-Bab., iv. They were fighting; savage, desperate, up-and-down fighting.
1867. [T. Wright], Some Habits Working Classes, 124. Up-and-down fights, in which … the men fight both up and down.
b. Of or pertaining to ‘up’ and ‘down’ trains.
1890. Daily News, 16 Sept., 6/4. Two complete sets of up and down lines run out of that station.
1898. Engineering Mag., XVI. 73. Acting as through stations for the main up-and-down traffic.
c. Watchmaking. (See quot.)
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 276. [An] up and down Indicator … [is] mechanism for indicating when a watch or chronometer requires winding.
D. sb.
I. Pl. uses (occas. hyphened), ups and downs.
1. a. Undulations or irregularities on the surface of ground, etc. Also in fig. context.
1682. Whitelock’s Mem., Pref. There are flats … as well as ups and downs and precipices.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 159. The Street being full of ups and downs, they make it … smooth from end to end.
1698. T. Froger, Voy., 110. The town is nothing throughout but up’s and downs and … consequently carriages are very impracticable there.
1717. Berkeley, Tour in Italy, Wks. 1871, IV. 563. After our ascent through a difficult path, many ups and downs, stony, narrow and uneasy, among shrubby mountains, etc. on foot.
1821. Cobbett, Rur. Rides (1853), 10. The ups and downs of sea in a heavy swell.
1859. Tennyson, Marriage of Geraint, 236. Geraint … rode, By ups and downs, thro’ many a grassy glade.
1879. Hare, Story of my Life (1900), V. xx. 169. All the ups and downs of the ground.
b. Undulatory motions, tracings, etc. Also fig.
1860. W. H. Russell, Diary India, II. 227. I did not find it easy to sleep in the palkee, with its ups and downs.
1860–70. Stubbs, Lect. Europ. Hist. (1904), 8. Charles’s wars with Francis are a regular seesaw. The Pope is generally the person who pulls the ups and downs.
1888. R. Abercromby, Weather, ii. 30. If we look at the barometer-trace…, the ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ suggest the analogy of waves.
2. a. Vicissitudes, variations, or alternations in respect of fortune, success, etc. Also const. of (life, fortune, etc.).
In frequent use from c. 1850.
1659. Bunyan, Law & Grace Unf., Wks. 1855, I. 553. The very saints of God have … many ups and downs in this their travel towards heaven.
1680. C. Nesse, Ch. Hist., 99. The church … continued 450 Y[ears] in its Vps and Downs.
1727. P. Walker, Remarkable Passages (1827), I. 293. He … had many Ups and Downs in his Case, warm Blinks and Clouds.
1793–4. Aikin & Mrs. Barbauld, Even. at Home (1805), IV. 5. I have had my ups and downs in the world.
1807. Southey, Espriella’s Lett., II. 178. The ups and downs of commercial Speculation.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, X. ii. ¶ 7. The ups and downs in the lottery of my own life.
1859. Thackeray, Virgin., lxxxi. They had had their ups and downs of fortune.
1875. Helps, Soc. Press., xx. 297. His life is a life of ups and downs, the ups and downs not being of exceeding magnitude.
b. Alternations in respect of condition, quality, etc.; vagaries, variations.
1855. Brimley, Ess., Westw. Ho! 301. The ups and downs, the fortunes and emotions, of a passion.
1882. Mrs. Oliphant, Lit. Hist. Eng., I. 368. The ups and downs of a mind so precariously balanced.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 897. The ups and downs met with in the course of the disease.
II. Singular uses (usually hyphened).
† 3. A swing-boat. Obs.
1813. Sporting Mag., XLII. 20. There were the usual swings, ups-and-downs, and roundabouts.
1816. in Hone, Every-day Bk. (1825), I. 572. Up-and-downs, merry-go-rounds [at fairs].
1825. Hone, Ibid., 1228. There is an ‘up and down,’ or swing, of … woodwork.
4. a. Alternate rise and fall, esp. fig. in respect of position, fortune, etc.; variation of condition, lot, or circumstances.
1775. S. J. Pratt, Liberal Opin., cviii. (1783), IV. 29. [The present world] is in itself one general up-and-down: the human soul abhors sameness.
a. 1838. C. Morris, Lyra Urban. (1840), II. 338. What an up-and-down is this? A shift from palace to cot.
1867. Lowell, Biglow P., Ser. II. Introd., Poems (1912), 287/2. The regular up and down of the pentameter churn.
1876. S. Lanier, Clover, 71. Th’ incalculable Up-and-Down of Time Made plain before my eyes.
b. Fluctuation or vacillation of passion, etc.
1905. Stopford Brooke, Ten Plays Shakesp., 83. The up-and-down of his bewildered passion has passed away.
5. An irregularly undulating surface, linention, etc.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, I. 1109. Such an up and down Of verdure,—nothing too much up or down, A ripple of land.
1888. Encycl. Dict., s.v. Tonic, The ‘up and down’ of pitch is not represented to the eye as on the staff.
Hence Up-and-downishness; Up-and-downy a. nonce-words.
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, xliv. The up-and-downy, wavy piece of road.
a. 1852. H. W. Torrens, Writ., II. 305. An up-and-downishness of surface that might have made you think the place had been the practice-ground of a young earthquake.
1873. A. J. Ellis, in Trans. Philol. Soc., 130. Such wonderful up-and-downishness does not shew much declamatory taste.
