sit-upon

American  

[sit-uh-pon, -pawn] / ˈsɪt əˌpɒn, -ˌpɔn /

noun

1. a piece of waterproof fabric or other material carried by campers, hikers, etc., and used for sitting on wet surfaces.

2. Chiefly British Informal. the buttocks.

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Etymology

Origin of sit-upon

First recorded in 1835–45; noun use of verb phrase sit upon

Example Sentences

In the “lithium triangle” – a region spanning Argentina, Chile and Bolivia – native communities sit upon a treasure trove of the stuff: an estimated trillion dollars in lithium.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2024

“So to now have found this amazing pedestal – my horse Dapper Dan to sit upon – and not have to say a word is amazing.”

From The Guardian • Jun. 1, 2020

It was titled “An Elegy to Dispel Gloom,” and it began: “Let us not sit upon the ground / and tell sad stories / of the death of sanity.”

From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2019

Not content to sit upon the dust heap of history, John Sununu, former Governor of New Hampshire, and former Bush Sr. chief of staff, hit the campaign trail in his now contested home state.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2016

Ever the showman, he quickly arranged three upside-down buckets as stools for the children to sit upon, like a proper audience.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood