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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

UPTHROU, adv., adj. Also -through, -throw(e); uptroo (Sh.). [′ʌp′θru, -′θrʌu, Sh. ′ʌp′tru]

I. adv. In the upper part of the country, in or from the uplands, in the Highlands, inland from the sea (Abd., Cld. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Sh., Bnff., Abd. 1973); upwards, so as to pass up and through to the other side (Cld. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1827 J. Imlah May Flowers 180:
Donald Blu is up through born, Thorough nainsel, heel an' horn.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xi.:
A visitor, a particular friend from “up throu”, an agriculturist like himself.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (12 Feb.):
Mally Tullock is sellin' hay ta some o' da neebeers uptroo.Abd. 1914 A. McS. The Bishop 35:
Na, laird, ye winna ken me. I come fae up throu'.Mry. 1939 J. M. Dallas Toakburn 9:
Their exploits when they lived “upthrowe,” back of the Mannoch Hills.Abd. 1959 Huntly Express (30 Jan.) 2:
It's maybe deein' a'richt up throu', but we could dee wi' a sho'er or twa'.

II. adj. 1. Upland, dwelling up country, coming from inland (Abd. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1831 J. Logan Sc. Gael (1876) I. 106:
The inhabitants no longer have their crops spoiled by their “upthrough neighbours”.Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 35:
It's a caul' up-throu place.Uls. 1898 A. M'Ilroy Auld Meetin'-Hoose Green 3:
Those dwelling on the north side were known as “up-through folk.”Abd. 1965 Huntly Express (29 Oct.) 7:
If the “doon-throu'” harvests were as early as they are, and the “up-throu” ones as late as they were.

2. Phr. an up-throwe heat, a warming of the thighs and crutch of the body by sitting with the legs apart in front of a fire (Abd. 1973).Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick i.:
Eppie Elrick settled herself in her easy-chair before the fire, pulled up her ample skirts remarking that “There wis naething like a gweed up-throwe heat”.Abd. 2005:
She spread er skirts afore e fire tae get a gweed upthrowe heat.