Chiefly Sc. and north. dial. Also Sc. 5–6 vp- (6 wp-, oup-), uphald, 8 uphad, 9 uphadd, -haud, uppal; 9 north. uphod. [OE. uppheald (f. UP- 1 b + heald HOLD sb.1), = ON. upphald (Norw. upphald; MSw. up-, ophald, -hold, MDa. and Da. ophold), MLG. upholt, MDu. ophout; MHG. ûfhalt (G. aufhalt) stop, delay; also MSw. uppe-, oppehald (Sw. uppehåll).]
1. A support or stay.
a. 1066. in Kemble, Cod. Dipl. (1846), IV. 232. Ic eom ðæs mynstres mund and upheald.
c. 1200. Ormin, 9217. Crist, Godess Sune,… Hælennde, & hellpe, & god upphald Till þa þatt he shall chesenn.
1559. Knox, First Blast, App. (Arb.), 58. So is the testimonye of a clean conscience to me a stay and vphold.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 45. O cruel creatures, quha dang doune sa strang a stay, piller, and vphald of the Realme!
1791. J. Learmont, Poems, 142. Deckit wi’ French flutteration, Stap forth the uphads o’ the nation.
1825. Jamieson, s.v. Uppal, The death o’ wives, and the luck o’ sheep, are a puir man’s uppal.
1894. A. Reid, Sangs Heatherland, 16. Wha’ll cast the end gin aince ye try To pu’ oor uphauds doon?
2. The support, sustenance, or maintenance of a person, estate, etc. Also without const.
α. 1439. Sc. Acts, Jas. II. (1814), II. 54/2. Þe said princesse … has … assignit … to be uphald of our said soueryn lord and his sistris … iiijm markis.
1456. Sir G. Hay, Govt. Princes, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 153. The gudis ar the uphald of the lyf.
c. 1500. Cartul. St. Nicholai Aberdon. (New Spald. Cl.), I. 259. Sextene bredir singaris and abill men to ye vphald of devin service.
1552. Lyndesay, Tragedy, 191. I wes the cause of mekle more myschance, For vphald or my glore and dignitie.
1597. Sc. Acts, Jas. VI. (1814), IV. 154/2. Oure said souerane Lord … Annexis … to þe same citye … for þe better vphald þerof the foirsaidis liberteis.
a. 1598. D. Fergusson, Coll. Sc. Prov. (S.T.S.), 84. Pride and sweirnesse wald have meikle uphald.
1808. Jamieson, s.v. Uphald, Uphadd, support.
β. 1483. in Rymer Fœdera (1711), XII. 174/1. To the upholde, maynteyne and encrease of their both Estatis.
1582. in Archaeologia (1846), XXX. 166. Those … placed here for the uphold and maintenance of the peace.
1680. in Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot., XLV. 241. The broad curse of God is on ministers and professors, for your joyning for their uphold.
b. The maintaining of a building, etc., in proper repair.
1471. in Charters, &c. Edinb. (1871), 133. For the vphald, reparatioun and bigging of the sammyn [port].
1527. Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1844), I. 116. The biging of the brig of Dee, and … the gret offeris … be his lordschip, for the vphald of the samyn.
1588. Exchequer Rolls Scot., XXI. 403. Payit yeirlie … for uphald of the brig of Tay.
c. north. dial. Personal maintenance (in respect of food, etc.).
1855–. in dial. glossaries (Cumb., Yks.).
