prep. Forms: 3, 5, 9 dial. uppo, 3, 8 Sc. upo (3–4 up-o, 4 opo), 5 vpo; 8– Sc. and dial. upo’ (9 Sc. apo’). [f. UP adv.2 + O, O’, prep.1 Cf. UPON prep.] = UPON prep., in various senses. (In later use Sc. and north. dial.)
c. 1200. Ormin, 11959. Þe deofell brohhte Jesu Crist Wiþþutenn o þe temmple Upponn an sæte uppo þe rof.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 37. And eauer habben sar care,… & bringe on his moder sorhe up-o sorhe.
c. 1300. Havelok, 2596. Helpes me and yu-self baþe, And slos up-o þe dogges swiþe.
c. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xlii. 114. Fayrest fode upo loft.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 2761. Faste þey fullen opo þem alle.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7037. The renke vp rose … And foght vpo fote as a freke noble.
1610. B. Jonson, Alchemist, II. ii. Thatch will lie light upo’ the rafters, Lungs.
1721. Ramsay, Ode to the Ph—, vi. If they command the storms to blaw, Then upo’ sight the hailstanes thud.
1772. Fergusson, To R. Fergusson, xii. [To] hae a charot at the door To wait upo’ me.
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., I. ii. Landlord. They have lost their way upo’ the forest.
1808. A. Scott, Poems (ed. 2), 101. Upo’ the rig she shoor wi’ Hab.
1865. G. Macdonald, A. Forbes, xi. I never kent ony guid come o’ bein’ ower sair upo’ bairns.
