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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Upsitting, vbl. n. Also: wpsitting, upsetting. [e.m.E. vpsitting (1572); Sit v.]

1. The action of deferring going to bed until a late hour; keeping late hours. Cf. Sit v. 13 c. a1538 Abell 69b.
His occupation wes drinkin and iowgin & wp sitting with hwirmaistiris and wile personis a1538 Abell 86b.
Mony of our prelatis now … schort thare awne life be lichorie glutrie & wpsitting in carting and dising and myschewos life 1533 Boece 299b.
Thir haly feistis … in oure infortunate tyme ar like as thai war changeit in drynking … amouris, vpsitting, and sic vthir vicis 1656 Elgin Rec. II 288.
James Mulikin and Alexander Paull compeired for wpsitting in the night and playing at cards 1658 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 1069.
For his overlait vpsitting and keeping companie with idill personis [etc.]

2. The celebration of a woman's first sitting up in bed after a confinement. Also attrib. with fest. 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. (MC) 26.
For the downeeputtyng and dischargyng of ryatus bancatyng at brydallis baptisyng of barnes or upsitting 1581 Acts III 221/2.
That na banquettis salbe at onie vpsittingis, eftir babtizing of bairnisattrib. 1501 Treas. Acc. II 41.
Giffin to the Maister Cuke that he bocht in Edinburgh to the ladyis upsetting fest, … four dosan mane bred, viij s.

3. Indifference, lack of zeal. a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 67.
Often when there is desertion as to Christ's presence, there is an up-sitting in duty and the exercise of grace a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 161.
For, where a decay cometh upon the graciousnesse of a peoples frame, … or, where there is an up-sitting without progresse, these become as a dead flie that maketh all the box of ointment stink 1680 Cloud of Witnesses (1714) 68.
The Lord hath rubbed shame on all faces, because of many backslidings and upsitting in duty 1680 Cloud of Witnesses (1714) 68.
I think the forsaking and upsitting of Christian meetings, is as sad a token of God's leaving the land as any that I see