Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1768-1816, 1883-1980
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UPBY, adv. Also -bye. Up there, up the way, up at or to a place, esp. one thought of as being higher or more exalted than where the speaker is, as Heaven, a mansion-house, etc. (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 273). Gen.Sc.; upstairs. Also in n.Eng. dial.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 15:
Up by the lambie's lying yonder styth.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxxvii.:
Is not my young leddy up by yonder at the house?Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 41:
I thocht I was in the ither warld, but whether upbye or doonbye I couldna exactly determine.Per. 1896 I. Maclaren Kate Carnegie 345:
Yir neebur upbye the General's dochter is cairryin' on an awfu' rig the noo at the Castle.Sc. 1904 E.D.D.:
When asking anyone to come upstairs 'come upby' would be used.Rxb. 1916 Kelso Chronicle (24 March) 3:
It's been an awfu' day up bye.Lnk. 1919 G. Rae Clyde and Tweed 68:
Kisted and flitted in For gude up-by.Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Spring o' Year 9:
Ye would be up-by at the auld place?Rnf. 1952 G. Blake Voyage Home i.:
A smell in the big drawing-room up-bye.wm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 25:
" ... I'll expect you up by wi' your tallies come Thursday,"
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"Upby adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/upby>
