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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.

Upspring, v. Also: upspryng, wpspring. P.t. upsprang(e, wpsprang. P.p. upsprungin, upsprung, wpsproung. [ME and e.m.E. uppspringenn (Orm), vp sprynge (Chaucer), vp spring (1471); Spring v.] intr.

1. To rise up, ascend. Also fig.pres. 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 44.
Mysty vapour vpspryngand, sweit as sensp.t. 1513 Doug. ix iii 102.
Syne from the grond, a wonder thing to say, With als feill virgyne facis vpsprang thai 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 167.
Belyve on weyng the bissy lark vpsprang 1513 Doug. ii xi 132.
Our the rufe … The flambe vpsprang [Sm. wpsprang]fig. 1513 Doug. i v 101.
And to the sternys vpspring sal the fame Of Julius

2. Of water: To issue from a source. = Spring v. 1. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3766.
Tak ȝe ane spaid … pas and delf gif ȝe can, Quhair that ȝe thocht the water first vpsprang

b. fig. Of a non-material thing: To arise, come out of or be caused be (a source, etc.). = Spring v. 1 b. 1562-3 Winȝet I 107 heading.
Gif præsumptioun vpspringis of the præmissis or nocht 1562-3 Winȝet I 6/32.
Pryde and auarice, of the quhilkis … hes vpsprung the electioun of vnqualifeit bischopis 1562-3 Winȝet II 12/29.
Be the negligence … of ȝour Hienes forebearis … al this perturbatioun, trible, and hie interpryseis … ar wpsproung

c. To come about, come into being. c1420 Ratis R. 1428.
And gud dissert will nocht vpspring But hail purpos and gret ȝarnynge Of Godis help

3. Of day, the morning, etc.: To begin, dawn. = Spring v. 2. b. Of the sun: To rise. = Spring v. 2 b. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 412.
Now done is my dolly nyght, my day is upsprungin c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 60/1.
In May as that Aurora did upspring 1513 Doug. v iii 2.
The nynte morow vpspryngis [Sm. wpspringis, Ruddim. vpspringis] fresch and gayb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 4.
Up sprang the goldin candill matutyne 1567 G. Ball. 137.
In till ane myrthfull Maij morning, Quhen Phebus did vp spring

4. Of plants, etc.: To grow; to shoot up, flourish. = Spring v. 3. Also transf. a1500 K. Hart 89.
Richt as the rose vpspringis fro the rute 1490 Irland Mir. III 124/12.
The goddes Pallas … gart wp spring a fair oliue tre in takin of pes 1535 Stewart 16757.
Quhen that ane tre is hewin fra the rute On it no moir thair will grow leif or frutt … Ȝit fra the rute small wandis will vpspring a1568 Bann. MS 229b/26.
Vpspryng c1590 J. Stewart 242 §170.
I persawed ane holin fair vpspringtransf. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 136/38.
The royall Stewartis … Thow gart upspring with branches new and greine

5. Of noise: To be emitted, become audible. 1513 Doug. iii ii 118.
The noys vpsprang [Sm. wpsprang, Ruddim. vpsprange] of mony marynar 1513 Doug. v iii 72.
Vpsprang the clamour, and the rerd furth went

6. To descend, take one's lineage of (from) (a person, family, place). = Spring v. 7. 1596 Dalr. I 49/2.
Heir ar mony baith barounis and gentle men vpsprung and flurised of that alde and ancient stock of the Læslies 1596 Dalr. I 80/12.
The inhabitouris of that toune … Brigantia, named thame selfes Brigantes frome the toune of quhilke thay war vpsprung 1596 Dalr. I 325/7.
Frome him the hous and clann of the Cumeinis first vpsprang