Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

UPSTAND, v., n. Also upstann (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), upstaun; upstaand, uppstand, opstand (Sh.). Sc. forms and usages. [v., ʌp′stɑn(d); n., ′ʌpstɑn(d)]

I. v. As in Eng., to stand up, rise to one's feet. Derivs. ‡1. upstander, -a, (1) in sea-taboo usage: a clergyman, sc. ‘one who stands up in the pulpit' (Sh. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. & Sh. 669, upstanda, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1973); (2) an upright needle in a jacquard lace loom (Ayr. 1973, upstanner); 2. upstandin(g), (1) ppl.adj., standing up, on one's feet, specif. ceremonially, in drinking a toast, during a prayer, etc. Gen.Sc.; (2) of wages: regular, fixed, basic (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., 1942 Zai; wm.Sc. 1973). Also in n.Eng. dial.; (3) vbl.n., pith, substance, usu. of foodstuffs (Bnff., Abd., Ags. 1973).1. (1) Ork. 1883 R. M. Fergusson Rambling Sketches 95:
Ministers must not be spoken of either. They are mentioned as Upstanders.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 132:
Here was a prayer to God for preservation, guidance, and success, in a few syllables, more comprehensive and sincere than that uttered by the learned upstaander.Sh. 1937 J. Nicolson Yarns 79:
The term minister or clergyman could not be used . . . he was invariably called Da Beinniman, or perhaps Da Opstander.2. (1) Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems 45:
I wish ye tae be up-standing an' assist me tae drink the health o' oor visiting brethren.Sc. 1972:
Will you all please be upstanding for the benediction?(2) Dmf. 1894 J. Cunningham Broomieburn 78:
The ane has an upstannin' wage an' his oo' an, his lambs.Dmf. 1917 J. L. Waugh Cute McCheyne 15:
He had one pound a week — twenty shillin's upstaunin' a' the time he was wi' me.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 23:
Hir man's hed aye a guid upstannin waige.(3) Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 204:
The nout are gain' through an undeemous thing o' neeps; ye see th'ive nae upstan'an.Abd. 1902 Weekly Free Press (1 Nov.):
It [fodder] widna hae muckle upstannin'. Beasts'll need a lot mair o't nor gin it had been sappier.Abd. 1952 Huntly Express (14 March):
There is more upstanin' in a bow o' meal than in the ten stones of any other cereal food.

II. n. The parapet wall between adjoining houses which juts up between them a little higher than roof-level and is clearly visible on a flat roof top (Edb. 1959). Cf. Upstart.