a. Also 8–9 upish. [f. UP adv.2 + -ISH.]
† 1. a. Flush of money. Obs.
1678. in Pollock, Popish Plot (1903), App. B. 382. The one saying to the other that … he would treat him … with wine and oysters, whereupon the other replied…: ‘What you are uppish then, are you?’
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Uppish, rampant, crowing, full of Money. He is very Uppish, well lined in the Fob; also brisk.
† b. Elevated in station. Obs.
1797. Hubbub, 7. No sooner did he get a little uppish in the world, than [etc.].
2. † a. Elated; in high spirits; cock-a-hoop.
Common in the early years of the 18th century, freq. const. upon. Johnson (1755), defines as ‘proud; arrogant’ and adds ‘A low word.’
α. a. 1704. T. Brown, Wks. (1720), I. 173. Half-pay Officers at the Parade very uppish upon the Death of the King of Spain.
1708. T. Cockman, in Ballard MSS., XXI. 81. Ye Brittish Papists were mighty uppish upon ye attempt made upon Scotland.
1722. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 643. The Jacobites are uppish, and very big in their hopes.
1746. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 289. I fear the Victory will have very bad consequences, if it render the Ministry uppish and secure.
β. 1710. Wentworth Papers (1883), 122. The Torys are very upish and expect all to come in for Places.
1712. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 25 Jan. I find Dingley smelled a rat; because the Whigs are upish; but if ever I hear that word again, I’ll uppish you.
1802. A. Carlyle, Autobiog. (1861), 154. He agreed with me that they [sc. the Jacobites] had less ground for being so sanguine and upish than they imagined.
† b. Elevated with drink. Obs.–1
1728. Vanbrugh, Journey to London, III. i. Lady Head. Not so drunk, I hope, but that he can drive us? Serv. Yes, yes, Madam, he drives best when he’s a little upish.
c. Ready to take offence; short-tempered, peevish. Now dial. or Obs.
1778. Miss Burney, Evelina, lv. Miss is so uppish this morning, that I think I had better not speak to her again.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., Uppish, testy, apt to take offence.
1833. E. Moor, Suffolk Words, 460. A man prone to take offence is said to be uppish:—or pepperish; apt to be hot.
1863. Mrs. C. Brock, Margaret’s Secret, ii. 31. When I used to find fault he would get uppish with me, and answer back rudely.
d. Inclined to be ‘stuck up’; putting on airs; aiming at gentility.
1789. O’Keefe, Farmer, I. ii. Must bounce a few, Betty’s so upish—likely wou’dn’t have me else.
1823. Blackw. Mag., XIII. 365. It is according to human nature to feel uppish on preferment.
1858. Trollope, Dr. Thorne, xxxiv. You think he’s an uppish sort of fellow, I know, and you don’t like to trouble him.
1886. Besant, Childr. Gibeon, II. xxxii. She’s uppish you know,… and he’s only a working-man.
e. dial. (See quots.)
1841. Hartshorne, Salop. Ant., Gloss. 605. Uppish, pert, proud, impudent.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Uppish, captious, pert, self-opinionated, tenacious of opposition.
3. Characterized by presumption or affectation of superiority.
a. 1734. North, Exam. (1740), 48. It seems [that] daring to rail at Informers … and Officers was not uppish enough, but his Lordship must rise so high as daring to limit the Power … of the Crown.
1808. Eliz. Hamilton, Cottagers of Glenburnie, ii. 37. Besides, she is getting uppish notions, from sitting up like a lady from morning to night.
1864. J. H. Newman, Apol., 100. Discouraging and correcting whatever was uppish or extreme in our followers.
4. Slightly elevated or directed upwards.
1862. Morn. Star, 9 June. Hayward sends a long uppish hit.
1887. Daily News, 1 July, 6/4. After two uppish strokes Mr. Scott hit remarkably well.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 2 March, 5/1. Peel was there to hold the uppish ball.
Hence Uppishness.
1716. N. Hough, in Thoresby, Corr. (1832), II. 341. The uppishness and indiscretion … of some … in the West Riding.
a. 1832. Bentham, Chrestom., Tab. i. Uppishness a probable result of the distinctions thus obtained.
1867. Gard. Chron., 16 Nov., 1180/1. The uppishness, the insolence, and the lawlessness of some of the young men.
1896. J. H. Wylie, Hist. Eng. Hen. IV., III. 468. The staid authorities resented his uppishness; but his spirit was irrepressible.
