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.
Quotation dates: 1554-1699
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Upror(e, -roir, -roare, n. Also: wprore, -roir, ouproir. [e.m.E. vproure (Tindale), vprore (Coverdale) (both after Germ. Aufruhr), uproare (a1586), MLG uprôr, Du. oproer.]
1. Loud outcry, vociferous condemnation. 1554 Knox III 181.
Great was the uprore aganis the poore prophet, in whilk appeirandlie he culd not haif eschaipit gif the princes of Juda had not haistelie cumit
2. Public disturbance, civil disorder, riot, insurrection, an instance of one of these. Also, in an uprore, in a state of civil unrest. b. transf. or fig. Describing the Reformation: Radical disputation, etc. in thought or belief.(1) 1562 Edinb. Hammermen MS 252.
Meninge heirby to move the hartis of the haill vikit aganis him and to mak vprore & inobedience in contempt of the godlie ordour forsaid 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 369.
In this uprore laitlie rasit up agains us 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 105.
Throw frequent uproris and seditionis a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 30.
During this season the Lords of Scotland of the queynis factioun maid an uprore in the south-west 1622 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XX 99.
Conserning ane upror that rais anent the electioune of the majestrats 16… Dunferm. Ann. 297.
[Penny weddings began to be very] uproris in Dunfermling(b) 1559 Aberd. B. Rec. I 323.
To provyd the esiast way of remeid … for … preserving of the chalices, siluer wark [etc.] … and to put the same in suir firmance and keiping quhill the said uproir and tumilt war put to tranquilite 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 181 (G).
For this present tyme off seditione and vproir 1563 Criminal Trials I i 435.
Raseris of tumult and publict vproir aganis the commoun peax and quietnes of the realme(c) 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 59.
Certane seditious personis … rasit ane seditious uproare … injurand the last provest [etc.] 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 71.
The rable of the craftismen (reddie aneughe to vproare and tumult) wer easilie perswadit to fortifie his interpryse 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 62/2.
Sen ye cum … to youre raigne … be richt & deu discente, feare na uproares(d) 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 535.
Ouproir & trouble in the religion. [Being] espyit … wes quicly … lett to birst out be the countenance of the baronis assembling thaime selues(2) 1667 Highland P. II 36.
[They] killed 13 of the Monro's … now all the countrey wes in ane up roareb. a1578 Pitsc. II 140/22.
In this ȝeir [sc. 1558] begane the wproir of reliegieoun a1578 Pitsc. II 140/33.
Bischopis, abbottis [etc.] … consallit quhat was best to be done aganis the wprore of the protestantis and thair new reliegieoun
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"Upror n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/uprore>
