Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
UPHOUG, n., adj. Also uphoga, upphog(a) (Jak.), upphogs (Jak.), uphug, upphugg(a) (Jak.). [′ʌphʌg]
I. n. Ruin, bankruptcy (Sh. 1825 Jam., 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1973, uphug).
†II. adj. Worn out and ready for breaking up (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); of a boat, worn out, unfit for sea (Sh. 1904 E.D.D.); of an animal, fatted and ready for the knife (Sh. 1904 E.D.D.).
[From Up + Norw. hugge, O.N. hǫggva, to hack or cut up. Cf. O.N. upphǫgg, a felling or cutting, til upphǫgs, (ready) for cutting, but the semantic development is not precisely traceable.]
