tup

American  

[tuhp] / tʌp /

noun

1. Chiefly British. a male sheep; ram.

2. the head of a falling hammerlike mechanism, as of a steam hammer or pile driver.

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verb (used with object)

tupped, tupping

1. Chiefly British. (of a ram) to copulate with (a ewe).

verb (used without object)

tupped, tupping

1. Chiefly British. (of a ewe) to copulate.

tup British  

/ tʌp /

noun

1. an uncastrated male sheep; ram

2. the head of a pile-driver or steam hammer

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verb

1. to cause (a ram) to mate with a ewe, or (of a ram) to mate with (a ewe)

2. dialect to butt (someone), as in a fight

Etymology

Origin of tup

1300–50; Middle English tope, tupe ram, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

It finally, with many improvements in detail, grew into a monster, the hammer-head, or "tup," being a mass of many tons.

From Steam, Steel and Electricity by Steele, James W.

Come up, This fox is running like a tup; Let's leave this lane and get to terms.

From Reynard the Fox by Masefield, John

Troth, Jenny, that ewe will waur ye; 'od I think ye hae gotten haud o' the auld tup himsel.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various

"He'll be a Teviotdale tup tat ane," said the chairman, "tat's for keeping ta crown o' ta causeway tat gate—he'll no gang far or he'll get somebody to bell ta cat wi' him."

From Guy Mannering by Scott, Walter, Sir

On the beech near a crossing, which had stood empty as he came, now sat a devil beating a drum with a fox's tail, so that it sounded afar off: tup, tup, tup.

From Klytia A Story of Heidelberg Castle by Hausrath, Adolf