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: 1460, 1520-1592, 1651-1688
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Upsado(u)n, Up sid(e doun, adv. and adv. phr. Also: up syd(e doun, up-side-down. [ME and e.m.E. up-so-doun (1327), up-swa-doune (Rolle), vpsadoun, vpsedoun (both Wyclif), vp set downe (c1520), vpsyde downe (1535); Up adv., Sa adv., Doun adv. Later perceived as related to Sid(e n.] To turn (bring) (something) upsadoun. a. To invert, overturn. b. To search thoroughly, ransack. c. fig. To reverse, overturn, bring into disorder (a situation or state of affairs). Also absol.a. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxi 12.
And Jesus … turnit vpsadoun [P. vpsedoun] the burdis of changerisb. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xv 8.
Quhat woman … gif scho has tynt a besand … kendlis nocht a lanternne and turnis vpsadoun [P. vpsodoun] the hous, and sekis diligentlie till that scho find it?c. c1460 Regimine Principum 152 (Marchm.).
Justice makis riche bath revm and ceteis … Quhair lak of law bringis al this vpsadon [Fairfax vp sid doun] 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3614.
Quhat I will say … the maisters … daylie turnis vp side doun 1591-2 Rob Stene 2.
Twich Lawrence anis, the kirk & croun, And haill estaitis turnis vpsyd doun 1651 Causes of God's Wrath in Testimony-bearing Exemplified (1791) 51.
Whereby the state of your cause is not only turned up-side-down by subordinating the interest of God to the interest of men 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 309.
The Lord is threatning to turn all things upside downabsol. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2705.
For quhy thow can sa weill ane lesing clek, Turne vp syde doun, ay to thy awin effect
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"Upsadon adv., adv. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/upsadoun>
