Also 4–5 vpholdere, 6 opholder; 4, 6 Sc. uphalder, 5 north. uppalder. (See also UPHELDER.) [f. UPHOLD v. (in sense 1 app. in the sense of ‘to keep in repair’). Cf. MDa. op(pe)holdere in sense 2.]
1. † a. A dealer in small wares or second-hand articles (of clothing, furniture, etc.); a maker or repairer of such things. Obs. b. = UPHOLSTERER. Now rare.
1333. Will of Robert de Reppes, 13 June. Quod perquisivi de Thoma Drie upholdere.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 168. A Ropere, a Redyng-kyng, and Rose þe disschere,… And of vp-holders an hep.
1377. Rolls of Parlt., III. 9. A null Mercer, Coteller, Jualer, Uphalder, ne a nul autre denszein ne forein.
1417. York Memo. Bk. (Surtees), I. 183. That na uppalder wyrk in Girdelecrafte.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 512/2. Vpholdere, þat sellythe smal thyngys, velaber.
1495. Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 19. To the … greate rebuke and disclaunder to the seid Crafte of Upholders.
1598. Stow, Survey, 154. [In] this lane…, in the raigne of Henry the sixt, had ye for the most parte dwelling Fripperers or Upholders, that solde olde apparell and housholde stuffe.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 449/2. Such … was of old the Vpholders, or Vpholsterers Arms of Chester.
1711. Act 10 Anne, c. 19 § 84. All … Drapers, Mercers, Upholders,… having … any Stock of … Silks.
a. 1766. Mrs. F. Sheridan, Sidney Bidulph (1767), III. 126. I did not like the furniture,… so I have bespoke new of an upholder.
1807. Southey, Espriella’s Lett., I. 155. An upholder just now advertises Commodes, Console-tables,… and Chiffoniers.
1812. Ann. Reg., Chron., 121. Messrs Wilkinsons, upholders,… having of late been frequently robbed of feathers.
1881. Instr. Census Clerks (1885), 53. Upholstery:… Stuffer. Upholder. Upholsterer’s Spring Maker.
1910. Daily Chron., 9 March, 4/7. I have seen ‘Carpenter and Upholder’ on the signboard of a shop in a Surrey village.
c. An undertaker. Obs. in general use.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 99, ¶ 4. I … shall give my good Friends the Company of Upholders, full Power to bury all such Dead as they meet with.
1714. Gay, Trivia, II. 347. Th’ Upholder, rueful Harbinger of Death, Waits with Impatience for the dying Breath.
1724. Swift, Reasons agst. Exam. Drugs, ¶ 5. The company exercising the trade and mistery of upholders.
1903. Daily Chron., 8 April, 5/2. A large glass sign describing the owners as ‘upholders,’ whereas other evidence shows them to be ‘undertakers.’
2. A supporter, sustainer, or maintainer (of a thing or person).
c. 1403. Lydg., Temple of Glas, 463. To ȝov my ladi, vpholder of my life, Mekeli I þanke.
1439. Coventry Leet Bk., 191. They ordeyn that … suche maner vpholders … be pursewed as they were persones sole.
1536. Stories & Proph. Script., M ij b. The Lorde lyueth, and blessyd be myne opholder.
1547. Bale (title), The first Examinacyon of Anne Askewe latelye martyred in Smythfelde, by the Romysh popes vpholders.
1590. Nashe, Pasquil’s Apol., I. B iv b. I wyll not be theyr vpholder which lye sleeping and snorting in their charges.
1642. R. Carpenter, Experience, III. iii. 12. For God leaveth many things undone,… to preach this doctrine that creatures are not his upholders.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 581. The said Duke … was an upholder of him and his unworthy doings.
1710. Swift, Poems, Atlas, 22. When the weight of kingdoms lies Too long upon his single shoulders, Sink down he must, or find upholders.
1809. Coleridge, Friend, 87. Intellect, and Thought alone can be our Upholder and Judge.
1840. J. H. Newman, Par. Serm. (ed. 2), V. x. 152. When was the power of the world an upholder of God’s truth?
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 229. A reverence for him far deeper than that of his upholders.
b. Of things: A support, stay, or prop.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. liv. (Bodl. MS.). It nedeþ to haue so many vndursettinges and vpholders þat suche a beeste may þe [more] ablelich … meue and goo.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxi. 8. Gentlenesse and faithfulnes are ye trew upholders of kingdomes.
1617. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1639), 80. Wheat flower … is the principall naturall upholder of the life and health of man.
1730. Southall, Bugs, 40. Two Upholders drove into the Wainscot or Wall.
1884. A. Ross, Talk upon Hair, 21. A thick Indiarubber ankle upholder, over which is worn the boot and sock.
