Dictionary

uppish en · ADJ

Pronunciation

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Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Germanic *ub Proto-Germanic *upp Proto-West Germanic *upp Old English upp Middle English up English up Proto-Indo-European *-iskos Proto-Germanic *-iskaz Proto-West Germanic *-isk Old English -isċ Middle English -isch English -ish English uppish From up + -ish.

Meanings

1. (since circa 1678) Having plenty of money.
   • 1699, B.E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew in its Several Tribes of Gypsies, Beggers, Thieves, Cheats &c., London: W. Hawes et al., Uppish, rampant, crowing, full of Money. He is very Uppish, well lined in the Fob […]
2. (colloquial) proud; arrogant; assuming
   • Family prayers were uppish with big words on Sunday—reverend Awe-full words that only God and Father understood. 1942, Emily Carr, “Sunday”, in The Book of Small, Toronto, Ont.: Oxford University Press, →OCLC:
   • When the other animals came back to luncheon, very boisterous and breezy after a morning on the river, the Mole, whose conscience had been pricking him, looked doubtfully at Toad, expecting to find him sulky or depressed. Instead, he was so uppish and inflated that the Mole began to suspect something; while the Rat and the Badger exchanged significant glances. 1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, chapter 12, in The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC:
   • “Heah that John is livenin’ things up at the darky school,” volunteered the postmaster, after a pause. “What now?” asked the Judge, sharply. “Oh, nothin’ in particulah,—just his almighty air and uppish ways. […]” 1903, W. E. B. Du Bois, chapter 13, in The Souls of Black Folk:
3. (of a shot) In which the ball is hit into the air, with the chance of being caught.
   • All the coaching he had received had been aimed at keeping the ball down. An ‘uppish’ stroke was to be deplored. But everything had to be uppish on this pitch. 1974, James Herriot, chapter 24, in Vet in Harness, London: Pan Books, published 2006, page 174:
   • Six runs were still required, and an uppish stroke by the new arrival secured two of them. 1898 July, Philip C. W. Trevor, “A Second Innings: A Story of a ’Varsity Match”, in The Badminton Magazine, published 1989, page 13:

Forms

Deriveds

uppishly · uppishness