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.
Uppa, Uplay, n. [ON uppi. The form with -l- may be influenced by Lay v.1 6.] ‘The first rig in a sheed [i.e. strip of land], esp. at the beginning of a township, on the north or east side according to the lie of the ground’ (A. Fenton The Northern Isles; Orkney and Shetland (Edinb., 1978) 44. See also H. Marwick The Orkney Norn, s.v. Uppa). Also proverb. —(a) 1642 Sc. Hist. Rev. XVII 20.
[The inquest] devydit the haill south town in thrie thirds, quhairof the ane peny land called the Flaws hes the uppa, Hollandis pennyland has the midrig, and the penny land called Coulls has the nulay 1668 Orkney Antiq. Soc. II 12.
[A sasine of the] halfpenny land in Wesbuster called Tofts, with the privilege of the uppa thereof, as the samen has in use been in all times bygane 1694 Sc. Hist. Rev. XVII 30.
That the haill arable lands of the toun, as wel lands which were formerly rendalled as outbreck and planted lands should of new be rendalled, and that ilk sheed of the said land should have an uppa, and that the samen shall begin at the east —(b) 1686 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXII 186.
The said James Ewensone to have the first rigg thereof beginning at the north, and Bracoes tennent to have the next rigg, commonlie called the uplay, as being udall land
