upper1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈʌpə/

adjective

  • 1situated above another part: his upper arm the upper atmosphere
  • higher in position or status: the upper end of the social scale
  • 2situated on higher ground.
  • situated to the north: [in place names]: Upper California
  • 3 Geology & Archaeology denoting a younger (and hence usually shallower) part of a stratigraphic division or archaeological deposit or the period in which it was formed or deposited: the Upper Palaeolithic age

noun

  • the part of a boot or shoe above the sole: leather uppers

Phrases

have (or gain) the upper hand

have or gain advantage or control over someone or something: he usually has the upper hand because he’s older each strives to gain the upper hand in military might

on one's uppers

informal extremely short of money: Joe invited us out to lunch because we were both on our uppers

the upper crust

informal the upper classes: a sort of trade school for the upper crust

Origin:

Middle English: from the adjective up + -er2