topside

American  

[top-sahyd] / ˈtɒpˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the upper side.

2. Nautical. Usually topsides. the outer surface of a hull above the water.

3. the most authoritative position or level.

4. Chiefly British. a cut of beef similar to a U.S. rump roast.

5. British. the top or outer side of a round of beef; beef from the outer thigh of a butchered cow.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or located on the topside.

2. of the most authoritative rank.

adverb

1. Also topsides up on the deck.

   He left the engine room and went topside.

2. to, toward, or at the topside.

topside British  

/ ˈtɒpˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the uppermost side of anything

2. a lean cut of beef from the thigh containing no bone

3. (often plural)

   1. the part of a ship's sides above the waterline

   2. the parts of a ship above decks

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Etymology

Origin of topside

First recorded in 1670–80; top ¹ + side ¹

Example Sentences

With everybody back Stateside and topside, save for Max’s consciousness, the band is gearing up for one last stand on the cliffs of Hell.

From Salon • Nov. 24, 2025

The video, also shared to his Instagram, concludes with Smith going topside and taking in the ocean views.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2023

They also engineered predatory opportunities, introducing spiders to the base of vegetation where insects were sleeping topside.

From New York Times • Mar. 11, 2023

“Finally, the navigator, who’d been asleep, came topside, rubbing his eyes,” William McGuire and Mark Murphy write in the regimental history of the battleship:

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2023

On one wall, flashers and safety overrides blinked to indicate that there were electric malfunctions and topside failures, probably from having the conning deck go under.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

Related Words

• front
• surface