[UP- 6 b. Cf. UPSET v.]
1. Sc. Presumptuous; unduly aspiring, ambitious, or forward.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxvi. That lang-tongued, conceited, upsetting serving-man o’ yours.
1822. Galt, Provost, xlii. He was by nature and inclination one of the upsetting sort.
1854. [‘Sarah Tytler’], P. Millar, 151. Their poor upsetting attempts at gentility.
Comb. 1824. Miss Ferrier, Inher., lxvi. He’s a proud, upsetting-like puppy.
2. Overturning, overthrowing, disturbing, etc.
1872. Bagehot, Physics & Pol., v. 163. A new idea … is, as common people say, so ‘upsetting.’
1899. Westm. Gaz., 8 June, 2/2. A most upsetting amendment to the Service Franchise Bill.
