Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Upwark, -werk, n. Also: up-, wpvark, -wark, -werk. [Up adv. 9 a and Wark n.] Completion of a piece of work; cessation of labour. Also const. at, to and to mak upwark. — 14.. Acts I 386/2.
And gif at wp werk [L. si ad upwerk] that ox may stride our a sper [L. tignellum] the borows sall ansuer for the meil and nocht for the price 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 187.
I wil compleit my promys … Maid to the poet … Mapheus And mak vpwark [Ruddim. vp werk] heirof and cloys our buke 1553 Perth Guildry 521 (12 Sept.).
Payand herfor ȝeirlie … the sowm of fourty markis vsuall money at vpwerk callit the Assumption Day of Our Lady 1560 Inverness Rec. I 45.
To entyr to hys seruice to Thom Vaus to vpwark or to Vytsunday nyxt cumis 1561 Inverness Rec. I 68.
Betuix the feist of Michaelmes and vpvark quhilk is at Sant Colmes day 1567 Inverness Rec. I 148.
Furneise ane oxe in his place to vpwark be resson he pereist in his default and desyris justice 1567 Inverness Rec. I 157.
To haif seruit him in the Machre to wpwark for sowde sawing pruiffis corne and all wther dewyte ane cottar aucht and suld haif 1572 Prot. Bk. W. Cumming 169b.
To be payit betix this and wp vark being the xv day of July 15… Aberd. B. Rec. MS XXI (Jam.).
Upwark, quhen the fysching wes done