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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tup tupping

He instances the Sansc. tud, tup, tubh, tuj, tur, tuh, tus, all having the same general meaning, to strike.

From The River-Names of Europe by Robert Ferguson

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 William Allan Neilson

"Why but cannot ta mak 'em balance baght stooans, tup heead?" sed th' chap.

From Yorksher Puddin' A Collection of the Most Popular Dialect Stories from the Pen of John Hartley by John Hartley

Michael: Better a sound tup than a spavined nag.

From Krindlesyke by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

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 S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett

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 Sir Charles Alexander Cameron

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