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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

UPLIFT, v., n. Sc. usages. [v. ʌp′lɪft; n. ′ʌplɪft]

I. v. 1. To dig up, harvest (potatoes and other root crops) (Sh. 1973), in comb. uplifting time, see quot. Cf. Lift, v., 1. (6).Fif. 1867 St Andrews Gazette (19 Oct.):
It would appear that there is no sin in taking potatoes at uplifting time, if only they can be had.m.Sc. 1996 John Murray Aspen 9:
At Berwick
the stookies is aw upliftit
an stibble fires burn rounaboot.

2. tr. or absol. (1) of money: to collect, draw, take possession of, e.g. wages, dues, rents, taxes, forfeits, penalties (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc. Hence upliftable, adj., of money: due, leviable, to be collected; vbl.n. uplifting.Ork. 1701 A. W. Johnston Church in Ork. (1940) 64:
The elders willingly did undertak to uplift and collect in their several urislands.Rxb. 1706 J. J. Vernon Par. Hawick (1900) 201:
Collectors for the uplifting and inbringing of the stent.Edb. 1710 Burgh Rec. Edb. (1967) 193:
The sums are upliftable as oft as they be found and apprehended.Per. 1760 A. G. M. MacGregor Hist. Clan Gregor (1901) 474:
In the yearly annual rent above written, upliftable as aforesaid.Sc. 1772 Edb. Ev. Courant (2 Sept.):
The entry to the uplifting said tolls to commence at Martinmas next.Sc. 1907 A. Lang Hist. Scot. I. 394:
Forman ceded to Hepburn such revenues as he had uplifted already.Sc. 1931 Fettesian LIV. i. 3:
Deposit receipt uplifted . . . £81.0.0.Abd. 1955 Buchan Observer (29 March):
Mr Aitken is authorised to uplift all debts due.

(2) To pick up (passengers), collect (e.g. tickets, parcels). Edb. 1974:
A bus uplifts passengers at its various stops. Intending members of an audience can uplift their tickets in advance of the performance.wm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 233:
He saw the auctioneer's man uplift the one he had been sitting on under the rowan tree.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 61:
At a quarter till echt, he wis aff ower the hills fur the schule run, drivin frae fairm tae fairm, uplifting littlins, wytin fur mithers tae dicht bibbly snoots, or tie pynts, or caimb the antrin hudderie heid..Sc. 1999 Herald (6 Sep) 21:
And the surprising thing is that the Maister, who is normally so canny with anything he buys and sells, has let some of it be uplifted by the merchants without having a clue what price he is going to get for it.Per. 2004:
When Pete got his new fridge the shop widnae uplift his auld ane, he telt me.

3. To elate, gladden, raise the spirits, to make proud, freq. in ppl.adj. (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. Vbl.n. upliftin. Deriv. upliftedness, elation.Sc. 1823 Scott Q. Durward xvi.:
They were uplifted in heart because of their wealth and their privileges.Rnf. 1861 J. Barr Poems 130:
O Jenny, I'm greatly uplifted.Sc. 1863 J. L. Watson By-gone Days 176:
Though she was sae bonny, that never seemed to uplift her.Fif. 1887 S. Tytler Logie Town III. xviii.:
I dinna ken whether I'm standin on my head or my heels for fair upliftedness.Ags. 1897 F. Mackenzie Northern Pine 213:
Ye'll get a' the sharper a doush doon on accoont o' this upliftin'.Edb. 1900 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-net 273:
He was just as far uplifted as he had been dooncast.Sh. 1924 T. Manson Peat Comm. 69:
Dey'll be a upliftin ipun her efter dis.

4. (1) To raise or strike up a tune, gen. in psalm-singing. Vbl.n. uplifting.Sc. 1816 Scott Black Dwarf xiii.:
When he first uplifted the psalm.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xii.:
There was heard within the uplifting of a Scottish psalm.

(2) To proclaim, make manifest.m.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 130:
The testimony the kirk had aye uplifted, in an open an' abüne-buird way.

II. n. 1. A contribution, a payment made to a common fund.Gsw. 1898 Gsw. Ballad Club II. 272:
His wages were a crown a day, Wi' fortnicht's pays, and uplifts tae.Ayr. 1930:
For Doctor's uplift and Society baith.

2. A lifting up; elevation.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah 1:
Syne Isaiah . . . his uplifts an' onlifts an' a', far ayont Babel an' the Nile.

3. (1) The collection of accounts, as by a shopkeeper (Lnk. 1973).

(2) The collecting of things or people.Slg. 1991 Sunday Times (26 May):
The parks and gardens chaps have Falkirk looking a treat, and I have lost count of the special uplifts so freely given by the refuse collection service to cater for the special needs of our jungle clearance scheme in the back garden.Edb. 1997:
Also used by Edinburgh Council - special uplift (for uplifting rubbish outwith usual bucket days).Edb. 2004:
Special uplift is for stuff normal bucket collection can't handle. For example, fridges, three piece suites ...Edb. 2004 Edinburgh Evening News (3 Jun) 13:
Council chiefs today launched a campaign targeting both landlords and student tenants who are about to move out and urged them to use a free special uplift service which is available for bulky items.wm.Sc. 2004 Cumbernauld News (11 Aug):
To make matters worse she has also been waiting around five weeks for a special uplift of beds and other furniture from outside the house.Fif. 2004 Fife Free Press (17 Sep):
Plans to charge £10 a time for the special uplift service have been approved by councillors despite concerns about an increase in fly-tipping.