Upsyturvy, adv. (old).—Topsy-turvy (q.V.).
d. 1594. Greene, James IV., iii. 3. There found I all was upsy-turvy turned.
Uptails-all, subs. phr. (old).—1. Confusion, riot, high jinks; (2) revellers, good fellows, boon companions. Hence (3) wantonness, and spec. the act of kind; whence to play at uptails all = to copulate: see Greens and Ride: a play on this sense and the old card game of uptails all was frequent.
1602. Dekker, Satiromastrix [Hawkins, Eng. Drama, iii. 170]. Feel, my uptails-all, feel my weapon.
1647-8. Herrick, Hesperides, 265. Love he doth call For his uptailes all.
Up-to-date, adj. (colloquial).—Of the latest: in fashion, fact, or philosophy; abreast of the times.
1888. Academy, 4 Feb., 822. A good up-to-date English work on the islands.
Upways, adv. (colloquial).—Upward.
Urchin, subs, (old and still colloquial).—1. A mischievous child; a half-chiding endearment; 'a little sorry Fellow' (B. E. and Grose): also (2) an elf, fairy, or sprite: popularly supposed to take the form of a hedgehog, the original meaning. Hence as adj. = (1) roguish, mischievous; and (2) trifling, foolish, trumpery.
1528. Roy and Barlow, Rede Me, etc. [Arber, 43]. I trowe the VRCHYN will clyme To some promocion hastily.
1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. 4. Like urchins, ouphes and fairies. Ibid. (1609), Tempest, i. 2. 326. Urchins shall . . . all exercise on thee.
1634. Milton, Comus, 845. Urchin blasts and ill-luck signs.
1692. Hacket, Williams, ii. 91. Our Bishop . . . made himself merry with the conceit how easie it was to stride over such urchin articles. No man would find leisure to read the whole 36, they are so frivolous.
d. 1721. Prior, Venus Mistaken. 'And who's blind now, mamma?' the urchin cried.
d. 1850. Wordsworth, Michael. There stood the urchin as you will divine.
Urinal, subs. (old).—1. 'A chamber-pot, or glass' (B. E.). Urinal of the planets = Ireland: 'because of its frequent and great rains, as Heidelberg and Cologn, in Germany, have the same Name upon the same Account' (B. E.).
U.S.-COVE, subs. phr. (American).—A soldier. U.S.-plate = handcuffs: cf. Government securities.
Use, subs. (American).—Liking.
c. 1889. Trans. Am. Phil. Ass. [Century]. I have no use for him—don't like him.
Verb (old).—To copulate (Chaucer): see Greens and Ride.
1613. Webster, Devil's Law-case, i. 2. Waiting woman. Very well, sir, You may use me at your pleasure. Rom. By no means, Winifred; that were the way to make thee travail again.
To USE AT (or ROUND) A place, verb. phr. (thieves').—To haunt, frequent.
1877. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. I got in company with some of the widest people in London. They used to use at a pub. in Shoreditch.
