tup
Americannoun
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Chiefly British. a male sheep; ram.
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the head of a falling hammerlike mechanism, as of a steam hammer or pile driver.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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an uncastrated male sheep; ram
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the head of a pile-driver or steam hammer
verb
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to cause (a ram) to mate with a ewe, or (of a ram) to mate with (a ewe)
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dialect to butt (someone), as in a fight
Etymology
Origin of tup
1300–50; Middle English tope, tupe ram, of obscure origin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Several hundred guineas have lately been more than once paid for a celebrated tup.
From The Stock-Feeder's Manual the chemistry of food in relation to the breeding and feeding of live stock by Cameron, Charles Alexander, Sir
"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
Now it was an accomplishment of our hero's that he could bleat like any kind of sheep—except perhaps an old tup, for which his voice was as yet too shrill.
From The Suprising Adventures of Sir Toady Lion With Those of General Napoleon Smith by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
O may thou ne'er forgather up make friends Wi' ony blastit moorland tup; But ay keep mind to moop an' mell, nibble, meddle Wi' sheep o' credit like thysel!
From Robert Burns How To Know Him by Neilson, William Allan
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
He said he witnessed a goat mating with ewes on his farm during "tupping" season five months ago, but had given the matter little thought until the geep appeared,
From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2014
Breeding Ewes.—After the tupping season, which generally lasts for a month, the sheep are usually put on a pasture, which need not be very rich.
From The Stock-Feeder's Manual the chemistry of food in relation to the breeding and feeding of live stock by Cameron, Charles Alexander, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
