Forms: 1 upp-, 1, 3–4 upriht, 4–5 vpriht, 4 up-, 5 vpryht; 3–5 up-, vpriȝt (4 op-), 4 upriȝte, 5 vpryȝt, vp-ryȝht (upryȝth); Sc. 5 vpe-, 6 vprycht, vpricht, 6– upricht; 3–7 vpright (4–6 vprighte, 5 vpperight), 4–6 vpryght (4 vpperyght, 4–5 vpryghte), 5 upryght (upperyghte, 6 upryghte, upperyght); 4– upright (6 uprighte, 7 uprite). [OE. up-, uppriht (f. up UP adv.1 + riht RIGHT a.), = OFris. upriucht (WFris. oprjucht), MDu. oprecht, opregt (Du. oprecht), MLG. uprëcht, upricht (LG. upricht, uprecht, upregt), OHG. (MHG.) ûfrëht (G. aufrecht, -richt), ON. upréttr (Da. opret, Sw. upprät).]
A. adj. I. pred. 1. Erect on the feet or end; in or into a vertical position; perpendicular to the ground or other surface. (Cf. 3.)
a. With verbs, as go, rise, sit, stand, walk.
In OE. the advb. form uprihte is occas. used.
Beowulf, 2092. Hyt ne mihte swa syððan ic on yrre uppriht astod.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3248. Ðe water up-stod … On twinne half, also a wal up-riȝt.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5868. Þis holi man sat vpriȝt, & ysei is deþes wounde.
1340. Ayenb., 56. Huanne þe glotoun geþ in to þe tauerne ha geþ opriȝt.
1388. Wyclif, Acts xiv. 9. Rise thou vp riȝt on thi feet.
c. 1400. Anturs of Arthur, l. The king stode vp righte And commaunded pes.
14[?]. Sir Beues (M.), 4184. Sir Beues was wery … That vnnethe he myght sitt vp-right.
1535. Coverdale, Lev. xxvi. 13. I haue broken the cepter of youre yocke, and caused you to go vp right.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. xxxii. 79 b. Many Noble men … all standing upright uppon theyr feete.
1607. Merry Devil Edmonton, Induct. 3. My stiffned haire stands vpright on my head.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 121. Upright he walks, on Pasterns firm and straight.
1703. [R. Neve], City & C. Purchaser, 278. A Man likewise standing firmest when he stands uprightest.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, X. x. Supported by pillows, she sat almost upright.
1821. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. My Relations. He … has a spirit, that would stand upright in the presence of the Cham of Tartary.
1847. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett. (1883), I. 391. I … can hardly sit upright.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 419. The films are thick enough to place in racks to wash, or to stand upright to dry.
b. With other verbs (or ellipt.).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3804. Þe stan his heued lai on þat night, In takning, he it sett vp right.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 28. Thise signes arisen more vpriht, & they ben called eke souereyn signes.
a. 1400. Northern Passion, 143/158. Sodanly þir launces thre … With outt mannys helpe war raysed vppe ryght.
c. 1450. Lovelich, Merlin, 2698. Bothe dragowns … thanne tornen … hem bothe with gret myht, and meveth al the erthe evene vpryht.
1496. Cov. Leet Bk., 575. Maister Meire, hold vp-right your swerde.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 24. His forkes and rakes … wolde be … beyked, and sette euen, to lye vpryght in thy hande.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Farew. to Tower-bottles, A 2 b. ’Twas my chance in Bacchus spight, To come into the Tower vnfox’d vpright.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 221. Forthwith upright he rears from off the Pool His mighty stature.
1700. Dryden, Theodore & Honoria, 146. Stood Theodore … With chatt’ring Teeth, and bristling Hair upright.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1755), 30. The Apoplexy…. Rub the Head,… and let two strong Men carry the Patient upright.
1807. Wordsw., White Doe, I. 245. A vault where the bodies are buried upright.
1900. Lucy B. Walford, One of Ourselves, xiv. A tall figure reared itself upright at her approach.
c. In figurative uses.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 266. Herdi bileaue makeð ou stonden upriht.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1298. Þe mare … þat we wax upright In welthe, and in worldly myght.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 8. [They] With good consail on alle sides Be kept upriht in such a wyse, That hate [etc.] Ibid. (1399), Praise of Peace, 6. The worschipe of this lond, which was doun falle, Now stant upriht.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 537. O engelond! stande vp-ryght on thy feet!
c. 1421. 26 Pol. Poems, xxi. 147. Of erþe ȝe ben cleped ‘salt’…; Go vp-riȝt and be not halt.
1551. Crowley, Pleas. & Pain, 590. Al men should walk in their callynge vpryght.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent, 105. While the honour of the Britons stood vpright.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., XV. v. 38. Most wished it were to be, that our fortune alwaies continued upright.
1644. Milton, Divorce (ed. 2), II. iii. 40. The justice of God stood upright ev’n among heathen disputers.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, III. XII. 601. Yet did he ever keep himself upright from manifesting his sorrow.
1822. Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. Dream Children. Pain … could never bend her good spirits, or make them stoop, but they were still upright.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 14 June, 2/1. To ‘keep the country upright’ should be … the first aim of the British Government.
† d. Cant. (See quot.) Obs.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v., Go Upright, said by Taylers and Shoemakers, to their Servants, when any Money is given,… and signifies, bring it all out in Drink, tho’ the Donor intended less.
† 2. Lying or so as to lie at full length, flat or recumbent, on the back and with the face upwards; supine. Usu. with lie v. Obs.
a. 1100. in Napier, O. E. Glosses, 58/1. Supinus, upriht, astreht.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8635. He pulte him mid is vot & adoun vpriȝt him caste.
c. 1300. Beket, 93. This maide ful upriȝt iswoȝe tho heo him iseȝ.
13[?]. St. Cristofer, 65, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 462. In his chayere he welte vpryghte.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prioress’ T., 159. Ther he with throte ykoruen lay vpright.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), III. vi. 54. They leyen euen vpright gapyng.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, I. 172. He saue eche tre full of bryddes lying vpryȝt dede.
1539. Elyot, Cast. Helthe, 48. Lienge vpright on the backe is to be vtterly abhorred.
1555. Watreman, Fardle Facions, I. vi. 88. Leaste he should giue vp the ghoste lieng vpright.
1620. Venner, Via Recta (1650), 303. Sleeping upright upon the back be not healthfull.
1627. Drayton, Nymphidia, vii. And Mab … Bestrids young Folks that lye vpright.
II. 3. Having the chief axis or distinctive part perpendicular to a surface; set or placed in a vertical position, posture, etc.; pointing or directed upwards; not inclined or leaning over. (Cf. 1 b.)
pred. 1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. viii. (Bodl. MS.). An erbe þat growiþ in hard londe is litel and vpright.
1563. Golding, Cæsar (1565), 73. Theyr foredecks wer very streight vpright, and so were also theyr sternes.
1597. Gerarde, Herball, III. 1226. Another kind of Myrtus … groweth vpright vnto the height of a man.
1611. Bible, Jer. x. 5. They [sc. idols] are vpright as the palme tree.
1666. Act 18 & 19 Chas. II., c. 8 § 12. That all Lights … made into any of them [sc. cellars] be … made upright.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 128. It cost me a Month to shape it … to something like the Bottom of a Boat, that it might swim upright.
1759. R. Brown, Compl. Farmer, 112. ’Tis a grass that grows very upright.
1787. Best, Angling, 3. Such [fish] as swim with their backs upright, or at right angles to the horizon.
attrib. 1420. Searchers Verdicts, in Surtees Misc. (1890), 16. William of Alne hafes a upperyghte gavell.
1517. in Archaeologia (1883), XLVII. 312. For makyng of an upright steyer of assheler.
1570. Billingsley, Euclid, XII. prop. 18. 382. I call that an vpright cone, whose axe is perpendicular to his base.
1640. Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 755. This Violet groweth about a foote high or more, with hard upright stalkes.
1668. R. Steele, Husbandm. Calling, vii. (1672), 189. No creature upon earth hath an upright countenance as man hath.
1714. Young, Force Relig., I. 290. When the winds … descend, The fair and upright stem is forc’d to bend.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 355. The upright shafts of … [the] tall elms.
1855. Poultry Chron., II. 602. Formed of upright bars of stout wire.
1870. Lubbock, Orig. Civiliz., vi. (1875), 294. The custom of marking boundaries by upright stones.
fig. 1600. Holland, Livy, 1359. During the upright and flourishing state of Rome.
b. In specific names of plants, etc. (see quots.).
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, I. 24. Vpright Dogs grasse or Quich grasse. Ibid., II. 705. The vpright Pancie.
1597. [see CLAMBERER].
1640. Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 755. Viola surrecta purpurea, Vpright Violets. Ibid., 1462. Vpright Woodbinde or Hony suckle.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Malva, China Upright Mallow, with small white Flowers.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 319. Upright Fir Moss, Lycopodium.
1822. Hortus Anglicus, II. 92. S. Recta. Upright Stachys.
1830. Baxter’s Libr. Agric. Knowl., 256. Nardus stricta, Upright mat grass. Ibid. Agrostis stricta, Upright bent.
1855. Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., VI, 105. Upright Brome-grass.
1882. Garden, 11 March, 166/2. The upright Acacia (fastigiata), a tree quite as erect in growth as the Lombardy Poplar.
c. spec. and techn. (See quots.)
Upright pianoforte: see PIANOFORTE.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xxii. 167. Fishes are borne after a diuers manner, viz. Directly, Vpright, Imbowed [etc.].
1611. Cotgr., La montée d’on bastiment, th’ ypper part of a building; or, a representation, or modell thereof, called the vpright plot of a building.
1638. S. Foster, Art of Dialling, 12. Of upright declining Plaines. Those Plaines are upright, which point up directly into the Zenith.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. s.v., Upright South Dyals. See Prime Verticles. [Prime Verticals, or Direct Erect North or South Dyals, are those whose Planes lie parallel to the Prime Vertical Circle.]
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Upright (with Heralds) is a Term used of Shell-fishes, when they stand so in a Coat of Arms.
1795. Stodart, in Abridgm. Specif. Patents, Mus. (1871), 29. An upright grand piano in the form of a bookcase.
1802. Loud, Ibid., 44. Improvements in the construction and action of upright pianofortes.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2684/1. Upright,… a term … applied to a boiler whose hight is greater than its width. Ibid., Upright,… a term applied to a molding machine whose mandrel is perpendicular. Ibid. (1884), Suppl., 995/1. Upright drill, a term applied to a drill whose mandril is vertical. Ibid., Upright molding machine.
1887. Golfing, 96. A club is said to be ‘upright’ when its head is not at a very obtuse angle to the shaft.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., 150. Upright flues, the main flue or shaft which carries the smoke from the furnace beyond the housetop.
1896. A. J. Hipkins, Pianoforte, 122. Upright Grand Piano, accurately a grand piano placed vertically upon a stand;… applied in the present day to the better kinds of the cottage piano.
1898. Stainer & Barrett, Dict. Mus. Terms, 359/2. The upright spinet and harpsichord.
d. Marked by perpendicular position or attitude; characterized by vertical bearing; erect.
An OE. instance occurs in Ælfric’s Hom., I. 276.
1634. Milton, Comus, 52. Circe … Whose charmed Cup Whoever tasted, lost his upright shape.
1658. Phillips, Orthography,… in Architecture or Fortification,… is taken for the upright erection of any work.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VI. 157. The anal fin … serves to keep the fish in its upright or vertical situation.
1791. Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, ii. It being impossible to preserve it in an upright situation.
1871. W. H. G. Kingston, Roger Kyffin’s Ward, v., in Leisure Hour, 5 Aug., 484/2. Although considerably more than seventy, he still walked with an upright carriage and soldier-like air.
1877. Tennyson, Harold, III. ii. 39. I have lost Somewhat of upright stature thro’ mine oath.
1878. B. Taylor, Deukalion, I. ii. 22. His eyes that met the sun, his upright tread.
4. Of persons: Erect in carriage. (Chiefly pred.)
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 78. She was … Long as a Mast and vprighte as a bolt.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, III. 4457. Folk in ther pouerte … Ben … lusti preuid at a neede, Vpriht of lymes ther iournes for to speede.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 89. O most diuine Kate,… As vpright as the Cedar. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., II. ii. 91. Away, you horson vpright Rabbet.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 13, ¶ 11. When these [spinning] wheels are set upon a table…, they will … keep the girls upright.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, x. He was … past the prime of life, yet upright in his carriage.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., iii. Hereward, bleeding, but still active and upright, broke away.
1905. ‘Guy Thorne’ [C. Gull], Lost Cause, i. Hibbert was an upright, soldierly-looking man, who had, in fact, been an army surgeon, and had now bought a practice in the parish.
† b. Cant. Of vagrants: Big, strong, or sturdy. Applied spec. to one of the higher classes of vagabonds. Usu. upright-man. Obs.
1561. Awdeley, Frat. Vacab. (1869), 4. An Vpright man is one that goeth wyth the trunchion of a staffe.
1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), 31. A vpright man, the second in secte … of these rainginge rablement of rascales.
1608. Dekker, Belman of London, Wks. (Grosart), III. 92. This band of Vpright-men seldome march without fiue or six in a company.
1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, II. i. Come Princes of the ragged regiment,… Prig my most upright Lord.
1641. Brome, Jov. Crew, II. G 1. You,… That never yet with man did Mell; or whom no Upright man is taster.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Dells,… young bucksome Wenches … [that] have not lost their Virginity, which the ‘vpright man’ pretends to, and seizes.
[1815. Scott, Guy M., xxviii. Johnny Faa, the upright man.]
5. a. = PERPENDICULAR a. 1 b, RIGHT UP a. 1.
1596. Danett, trans. Comines (1614), 295. We mounted vp such a maruellous steepe and vpright hill.
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 12. This mountayne is verrie upryghte on bothe sides.
1861. Whyte-Melville, Good for Nothing, iii. Another time do not ride so fast at an upright leap.
† b. Perpendicular to a surface. Obs.–1
1678. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., iv. 65. Exactly even and upright to the edges of the Board.
c. Of a rectangular superficies: Having the height greater than the breadth.
1888. Jacobi, Printers’ Vocab., Upright, a page or job set or cut to an upright size—the reverse of oblong.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 523. The remaining portion … permits of upright or oblong pictures being taken.
† 6. a. Of shoes: That may fit either foot; straight. (Opposed to ‘right’ and ‘left.’) Obs. rare.
1608. Day, Hum. out of Br., II. ii. A paire of vpright shooes, that gentlemen weare … now of one foote, then of another.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. VI. i. He that weares an vpright shooe, may correct the obliquity.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. v. 262. An upright shoe may fit both feet.
† b. Straight in respect of grain. Obs.–1
1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 115. The … Braces … ought to be made of sound hearty upright Oak.
7. Taking place in a vertical direction; upward.
1650. Row, Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.), 431. Everie christian should be an hawk; his course should be upward and upright, or right up.
1837. P. Keith, Bot. Lex., 248. An upright growth of six inches in the year.
1876. Stainer & Barrett, Dict. Mus. Terms, 352/2. The upright action was invented for the purpose of constructing pianofortes [etc.].
III. fig. 8. Of persons: Adhering to or following correct moral principles; of unbending integrity or rectitude; morally just, honest, or honorable.
1530. Palsgr., 328/2. Upright, indifferent bytwene party and party, and nat affectionate, indifferent,… juste.
1560. Bible, 2 Chron. xxix. 34. The Leuites were more vpright in heart to sanctifie them selues, then the Priests. Ibid., Ps. xi. 2.
1605. Camden, Rem., 7. That goodly, vpright, provident,… and reasonable creature.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., II. xi. (1674), 149. The uprightest and most experienced Senator.
1700. Dryden, Pref. Fables, Wks. (Globe), 499. I have … been an upright judge betwixt the parties in competition.
a. 1720. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. II. 142. They were found upright in their dealing.
1742. Pope, Dunc., IV. 208. So upright Quakers please both Man and God.
1828. Lytton, Pelham, III. xiv. I have always thought him the most upright and honourable of men.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. ii. 173. [He] bore through England the reputation of an upright and virtuous king.
1904. Verney Mem., II. 296. She had been upright in her life.
absol. 1560. Bible, Prov. xxviii. 10. The vpright shal inherit good things. Ibid., Ps. vii. 10. God … preserueth the vpright in heart.
1786. Paraphrases Ch. Scotland, xxi. 1. Th’ upright in heart alone have hope.
b. Of the mind, qualities, actions, etc.: Marked or characterized by integrity or probity; having conformity or accordance with moral rectitude.
1538. Starkey, England, I. ii. 43. Settyng themselfe in relygyouse housys, ther quyetly to serue God and kepe theyr myndys vpryght.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. 53. That we both may … haue therwith an vpryght harte to God.
1560. Bible, Ps. xxxvii. 14. To slay suche as be of vpright conuersation.
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, B ij. That we might serve … God … with an vpright righteousnes and holynes.
1623. Extr. Aberd. Reg. (1848), II. 388. They sall giwe wnto thame thair trew and upricht counsall whan the same salbe askit.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 18. Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer … th’ upright heart and pure.
1700. T. Brown, Amusem. Ser. & Com., 31. Have you any Use in your Country for Upright Honesty?
a. 1721. Prior, Vicar of Bray & More, Wks. 1907, II. 259. An upright and unprejudiced Conscience.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 682. Those hearts should be reclaim’d, renew’d, upright.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, VIII. vi. Now I see the fair promise of his upright youth.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 458. Fair or upright dealing.
1844. H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. 473. The diligent and upright discharge of the duties.
1904. Verney Mem., I. 415. His upright chivalrous conduct.
Comb. 1654. Allen, in Thurloe, St. Papers (1742), II. 214. The honour God hath put uppon hin,… I mean that of upright-heartedness to the Lord.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xliii. The best and most upright-minded men.
1836. [Mrs. Cheap], Going to Service, xii. 140. She addressed an upright-minded girl, whose heart immediately responded to her desires.
† 9. a. Sc. True; undoubted; rightful; = RIGHT a. 16. Obs.–1
c. 1480. Henryson, Cock & Fox, xi. Ȝe ar ȝour Fatheris Sone and air vpricht.
† b. In good condition; in proper order; correct.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 651. Fansy and I, we twayne,… counterfeted our names we haue, Craftely all thynges vpryght to saue.
1557. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 232. Good husbandes that laye, to saue all things vpright: for Tumbrels and cartes, haue a shed redy dight.
1630. Sherley, in Bradford, Plymouth Plantation (1856), 270. If it should please God ye one should faile…, yet ye other would keepe both recconings, and things uprighte.
† c. Plain; straightforward; unambiguous. Obs.
1587. Harrison, Descr. Brit., I. i., in Holinshed, I. 2/1. My purpose is to … deliuer such things as I intreat of in distinct and vpright order.
1607. Dekker, Knt.’s Conjur. (1842), 56. He had bin in vpright tearmes an vsurer.
10. a. Stable, equable. b. dial. Sound in respect of health.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, II. M iij b. The quiete and vpright state of the bodye.
1905. Eng. Dial. Dict., VI. 327/2. My horse is quite upright.
B. sb. † 1. A vertical front, face, or plane. Obs.
1563. Shute, Archit., C iv b. This is the foundacion through the whiche we knowe and finde all the measures and vprightes belonging to the pillor.
1663. Gerbier, Counsel, 12. Shun too much carved Ornaments on that upright. Ibid., 15. Contracting the Balconies within the upright of a Column.
1679. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., viii. 141. You design the Balcony to project beyond the Upright of the Front.
1703. [R. Neve], City & C. Purchaser, 11. The springing of the Arch is skew’d back from the upright of the Jambs.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 55. The vacuities … left between the back of the sweep of the Arch, and the upright of the Wall it is turn’d from,… shou’d be fill’d up.
† b. = ELEVATION 11, ORTHOGRAPHY 2 b. Obs.
1603. B. Jonson, K. Jas.’s Entertain., ¶ 1. The scene presented it selfe in a square and flat vpright like to the side of a citly.
1620–50. I. Jones, Stone-Heng (1655), 56. The groundplot, with the uprights, and profyle of the whole work. Ibid., 61. The upright of the work, as when entire.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 216. You may judge by the Upright, of the handsome Effect this Cascade would make.
1782. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (ed. 3), I. Suppl. T 1. There are not many uprights, but several ground plans of some of the palaces.
1842. Gwilt, Archit., Gloss. 1049. Upright...; a term rarely used.
† c. A very steep declivity. Cf. PERPENDICULAR sb. 2. Obs.–1
1712. Henley, trans. Montfaucon’s Antiq. Italy, vii. 108. The Lake runs most rapidly through the Mountain, till it comes to an upright, where there is a mighty Fall.
2. An upright or vertical position; the perpendicular.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xix. 297. So that the Tympan may stand … towards an upright.
1851. Laxton, Builder’s Price Bk., 133. Plasterer’s Work…. Dubbing out … not to be allowed unless the work is out of an upright.
1883. in Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk. (1888), 791. Thick there wall’s a little bit out of an upright.
1905. Times, 30 Sept., 8/1. The mullion was much out of upright, and had … an iron stay.
b. That which lies immediately above a thing.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 217. Every man may do what he pleases upon the upright or perpendicular of his own soil.
3. Something set or standing upright, erect, or vertical; a perpendicular stone, post, part, etc. In frequent use from c. 1790.
1742. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit. (ed. 3), I. 259. By which means the Uprights [of Stonehenge] are less liable to fall or swerve.
1776. G. Semple, Building in Water, 131. The upright of c. has a square Hole in the upper End of it.
1786. Abercrombie, Gard. Assist., 54. Uprights or growing stakes.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, 140. Vessels in harbour … have uprights [for awnings].
1794. Burns, Caledonia, 46. Rectangle-triangle the figure we’ll choose, The upright is Chance, and old Time is the base.
1845. J. Saunders, Cabinet Pict. Eng. Life, 19. A beam laid cross-wise upon two uprights.
1854. Ainsworth, Flitch of Bacon, IV. iii. A magnificent staircase of many turnings…. The uprights on each landing were decorated with rampant nondescripts.
1883. Miss Broughton, Belinda, III. iii. One of the spiked iron uprights of the gate.
1886. Furnivall, in Shaks., Ven. & Ad. (1st Qo. facsimile), p. xix. ‘Hooke-nosoe,’ should be ‘hook-nosde’; the upright of the d unluckily failed to print.
b. spec. One of the vertical members of a framing, etc.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 27 Aug. 1666. We plumb’d the uprights in several places.
1791. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 34. The outside timbers (since called the uprights) were seventy-two in number).
1807. Pike, Sources Mississ., I. (1810), App. 46. Part of the houses are framed, and … there are small logs let into mortises made in the uprights.
1851. Ruskin, Stones Ven. (1874), I. i. 18. Timbers attached to uprights on the top of the nave pillars.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. IV. 61. The greasy blackened wood Of the hall’s uprights.
c. (See quots.)
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rur. Sports, I. x. 82/2. The Spire [has] a brow antler, and half-developed beam, called uprights; a Staggart, brow, tray, and uprights.
1878. in Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., 792. A male deer of one year old has … one straight horn each side only, which we term his upright.
d. An upright pianoforte (see PIANOFORTE).
1860. Builder, 15 Sept., 588/1. The best grands and uprights of the present day.
1894. S. Fiske, Holiday Stories (1900), 118. The baby grands nestled between the larger instruments. The uprights looked … out of place.
e. A kind of fly-hook.
1844. Templer, in Pulman, The Book of the Axe (ed. 2), 156. A bright red palmer, a blue upright, and a March brown,—all made rather above the common size—will not often allow us to return from that spot empty handed during March and the beginning of April.
1878. W. Nash, Oregon, vi. 135. The lawyer put on a ‘black palmer’ and a ‘blue upright,’ and set off to see if these old favourites would not tempt an Oregon trout as well as an English, Scotch, or Norwegian.
1892. Daily News, 14 April, 3/1. The comparatively large uprights and browns are as fatal as ever to the smallest trout.
4. An upright stratum; = ARRECT sb.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., II. 158. A mountain of a most regular structure; the arrects, or uprights, having their planes parallel to its great axis.
5. slang. (See quot.)
1796. Sporting Mag., VIII. 207. [They] drank 57 quarts of upright, viz. a quart of beer with a quartern of gin in it.
