Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1706-1930
[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0]
UPON, prep. Also upo (Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Shop Bill 34; m.Lth. 1819 J. Thomson Poems 175; Ags. 1861 R. Leighton Poems 40; Abd. 1929 Abd. Book-Lover VI. iii. 79) (see O, prep., 2.), upae (Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 9, 45, Ags. 1910); and I.Sc. forms Apae, Api, Apo', Ipo. Sc. forms and usages. Sc. also tends to keep upon where Eng. now uses on only (Edb. 1772 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 73; Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 24; Mry. 1806 J. Cock Simple Strains 135; Lth. 1856 M. Oliphant Lilliesleaf xxviii.; Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes xi.; Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 82; Ork. 1907 Old-Lore Misc. I. ii. 61; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. 10, s.v. Ag). [ə′po(n)]
1. Used where Eng. employs a different prep.: (1) about, concerning, esp. after certain verbs of remembering, thinking, discussing. See On, prep., 2. (1).Abd. 1926 Abd. Univ. Review (March 114:
A min' upo' bein' sent t' the niest craftie t' speer if Geordie Knox wid come and help ma fader.
(2) = at. Phrs. upon the heid o, at the head of (Sh., Abd. 1973); to be upo, to be insistent with, to urge, importune (Sh. 1973).Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 92:
Makes a leader march upon the head of his men.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (10 July):
I shook my neive apon him.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (10 Dec.):
Da lasses wis apo' Willie ta sing dem a sang.
(3) of time, incidence: = during (I.Sc., Bnff., Abd. 1973), in the course of.Mry. 1858 G. Mann Poems 56:
I rin for fear my head ye'll crush And sleep upon the day.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays 7:
The spate cam' on upo' the nicht, An' a' gaed doon the burn.Abd. 1930:
They cam upo the nicht and took awa the horse.
(4) of place or manner: = in (Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Per., Dmf. 1973). See On, prep., 2. (5).Edb. 1735 Process Wright v. Din 26:
Donaldson came there upon the Street.Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 24:
To meet one upon the street.Sc. 1824 Scott St Ronan's W. xxii.:
She wondered why Miss Clara Moubrie didna wear that grand shawl and her just sitting upon the wind of a door.Abd. 1836 J. Grant Tales of Glens (1869) 54:
We waur upon nae hurry brakin' up.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (7 July):
Will ye hae ony mair tae, bairns? Der plenty apo' da pot.
(5) = to (Sh. 1973).Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1873) 30:
Just keep yer hands upo' yoursell.
(6) in regard to persons: (i) = with, with the behaviour of (Sh. 1973).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (22 May):
I tink shü wisna plased apo' Sibbie.
(ii) in respect of marriage: = to, with. Gen.Sc. See On, prep., 2. (7).Rxb. 1706 J. J. Vernon Par. Hawick (1900) 114:
Ane supernumerarie mariage of the said John Hardie upon Isobell Atkine.Ayr. 1821 Galt Annals i.:
My marriage upon my own cousin.Abd. 1877 G. MacDonald M. of Lossie v.:
God forbid she sud be married upon ony sic a bla'guard!Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xxi.:
She was married upon my Uncle Robin.
2. In phrs.: (1) to be upon the mind o, to be of the same mind as, to agree with (Sh. 1973); (2) to be upo go, to be on the go, to be in use and activity. See also Go, n.2, 2. (2); (3) to fall upon sleep, to fall asleep (Ork. 1973).(1) Sh. 1899 Shetland News (23 Sept.):
Doo's apo' my mind, Sibbie.(2) Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xliii.:
An' fat sud be upo' go noo, but a braw new viacle!(3) Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 100:
He would fa' upon a rosy sleep.
