topsail 
They bente on a lionet, and bare a topte [read toppeT) 
saile 
Affor the wynde ffresshely to make a good flare. 
Richard the Hedeless, iv. 72. 
Yer we farther pass, our slender Bark 
Must heer strike top-sails to a Princely Ark 
Which keeps these Straights. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Btirtas's Weeks, ii., The Furies. 
Double topsails, a rig in which the topsail, as formerly 
carried on Square-rigged vessels, is divided horizontally 
into two sails for ease and convenience of handling. In 
this rig an additional yard is carried, called the lower 
topsail-yard, which is slung on the cap of the lower mast 
instead of being hoisted and lowered, while the upper 
topsail-yard is hoisted and lowered as are single topsails. 
The lower topsail is the size of the whole topsail when 
close-reefed, so that letting go the topsail-halyards at 
once reduces the sail to a close reef, the clues of the up- 
per topsail being lashed to the lower topsail-yardarms. 
In large merchant ships the topgallantsails are some- 
6388 
In Bodleian MS. Kawl. Poet. 25 (which is dated 1694-5, 
and is a copy of a MS. written not later than 1586), on the 
reverse of sign. E 7, eleventh line, I find the phrase topside- 
h, I suppose, was the original of topsy-turvy. 
F. W. Foster, in N. and (J., 5th ser., II. 478. 
over head; topsyturvy: sometimes shortened to topsail. 
Mony turnyt with tene topsayles ouer, 
That hurlet to the hard vrthe, & there horse leuyt. 
Destruction of Tray (E. E. T. S.), 1. 1219. 
To settle the topsail-halyards. See settlei. 
topsailt, adv. [ME. topseyle: see topsail, n.} 
Same as topsails over (which see, under topsail, 
.). 
And eyther of hem so smer[t]lye smote other 
That alle fleye In the felde that on hem was fastened, 
And eyther of hem topseyle tumbledde to the erthe. 
Rom. of the Cheitelere Assigne (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 320. 
topsail-yard (top'sal-yard or top'sl-yard), n. 
A yard on which a topsail is carried. Compare 
double topsails, under topsail. 
top-saw (top'sa), n. In a sawmill, the upper 
of two circular saws working together. It cuts 
through the stuff from above, until it reaches the kerf of 
the lower saw. It is set a little before or behind the lower 
saw, so as not to interfere with it. E. H. Knight. 
top-sawyer (top'sa"yer), n. 1. The sawyer who 
takes the upper stand in a saw-pit. Hence 
2. One who holds a higher position than another ; 
a chief over others; a superior. [Colloq.] 
Whigs 
to our proverb. How then can the Whigs be?" 
R. D. Blackmare, Lorna Doone, xxxvi. 
3. A person of consequence or importance ; a 
prominent person . [Colloq. ] 
A young dandified lawyer, 
Whose air, ne'ertheless, speaks him quite a top-sawyer. 
Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, II. 56. 
topse-torvet, topset-torviet, topset-turviet, 
topset-tirvit, adv. Obsolete forms of topsy- 
turvy. 
topseyt, adv. See topsy. 
top-shaped (tpp'shapt), a. Shaped like a top; 
inversely conical. 
top-shell (top'shel), n. Any one of the species 
of the genus Trochus or the family Trochidx, of 
a regularly conic 
figure. Many of 
these shells are of 
large size and very 
handsome ; such are 
often cut and polish- 
ed to show the exqui- 
site nacre, and used 
as parlor-ornaments. 
See Trochidse, and also 
cut under Stonodonta. 
Perspective top- 
shell, a perspective- 
shell ; any member 
of the Solariidx (for- 
merly united with 
Trochid&). See CUt Top-shell ( Trochlis ntloticus). 
under Solariidse. 
Slit top-Shells. See slOl, v. t., and cut under Sciesurel- 
lidte. 
topside (top'sid), n. [< top 1 + side 1 .} 1. The 
top side ; the upper part. Usually as two words, top 
side, except in the specific use (def. 2), and in the expres- 
sions topside-turned, topside-turvy, topside-turvied, and the 
phrases following, all being accommodated forms of topsy- 
turvy (which see). 
2. Specifically, the upper part of a ship's sides ; 
the side of a ship above the water-line : com- 
monly in the plural. 
She had not strained a single butt or rivet in her topsides. 
Sci. Amer. Supp., p. 8777. 
Topside the other wayt, topside tother wayt, top- 
side turfwayt. Same as topsyturvy, of which these 
phrases are sophisticated amplifications, suggesting a false 
derivation. 
The estate of that flourishing towne was turned . . . 
topside the otherwaie, and from abundance of prosperitie 
quite exchanged to extreame penurie. 
StaitVrarjrt, Descrip. of Ireland, iii. (Holinshed'sChron.,1.) 
Thus were all things strangely turned in a trice topside 
father way: they who lately were confined as prisoners 
are now not only free, but petty Lords and Masters, yea 
and petty Kings. 
H. L' Estrange, Reign of K. Charles (ed. 1655), p. 75. 
topside-turnedt, [An aceom. form of topsy- 
turvy, as if < topside + turned. Cf. topsyturny, 
topsyturn.} Same as topsyturvy. Heywood, 
Dialogues (Works, ed. Pearson, 1874, VI. 214). 
topside-turvyt, adv. [Also topside-titrvey, top- 
syd turvie; an accom. form of topsyturvy.} 
Same as topsyturvy. Stanilmrst, j-Eneid, ii. ' 
At last they have all overthrowne to ground 
Quite topside turvey. Spenser, F. Q., V. viii. 42. 
I found nature turned top-side turvy ; women changed 
into men, and men into women. 
Addison, Guardian, No. 154. 
topsman (tops'man), n.; pi. topsmen (-men). [< 
top's, poss. of top^', + man.'] 1 . Same as toyman, 
2. 2. A chief or head cattle-drover; a fore- 
man or bailiff. Salliwell. 
top-soil (top'soil), n. The surface or upper part 
of the soil. 
top-soiling (top'soi"ling), . The process of 
taking offtne top-soil of land, as before a ca- 
nal, railway, etc., is begun. 
topsoltiriat, adv. Same &s topsy turvy. [Scotch.] 
top-stone (top'ston), n. 1. A stone that is 
placed on the top, or which forms the top. 
Human learning is an excellent foundation ; but the 
top-stone is laid by love and conformity to the will of God. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 63. 
2. One of the jewels of a marine chronometer. 
It is usually a ruby cut in the form of a plano-convex 
lens, but sometimes a diamond cut in facets. It is so placed 
that its flat side bears against the end of the pivot. 
topsyt, adv. [Found only in the spelling top- 
sey ; abbr. of topsyturvy : see topsyturvy, etym. 
(4).] Same as topsyturvy. 
Then turning topsey on her thumb. 
Charles Cotton (1664). (F. Ball, The Nation, March 28, 
[1889, p. 268.) 
topsydturvyt, adv. Same as topside-turvy for 
topsyturvy. 
topsyturn (top'si-tern), v. t. [Formerly topst- 
turn, topsieturn; a back-formation (as if < topsy- 
+ turn), < topsyturny: see topsyturny. Cf. top- 
side-turned.} To turn upside down; throw in 
confusion. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, 
ii., The Schisme. 
I have such an optimistic faith and yet it is very hard 
to keep it fresh and strong in the presence of such wick- 
edness, of such suffering, of such topsyturning of right 
and wrong. S. Bowles, in Merriam, II. 159. 
topsyturnyt. See topsyturvy, etym. (c). Min- 
sheu, 1617. 
topsyturvily (top-si-ter'vi-li), adv. [< topsy- 
turvy + -fy 2 .] Same as topsyturvy. Daily Tele- 
graph, Feb. 5, 1886. (Encyc. Diet.) 
topsytUTViness (top-si-ter'vi-nes), n. [< topsy- 
turvy + -ness.} The state of being topsy- 
turvy. Athcneeum, No. 3245, p. 11. 
topsyturvy (top-si-ter'vi), adv. [A word which, 
owing to its popular nature, its alliterative type, 
and to ignorance of its origin, leading to various 
perversions made to suggest some plausible 
origin, has undergone, besides the visual varia- 
tions of spelling, extraordinary modifications 
of form. The typical forms, with their varia- 
tions and earliest known dates, are as fol- 
lows : (1 ) Topsy-tervy (1528), topsy-tyrvy (1530), 
topsie-turvie (1575), topse torve (1579), topsy 
turvye (1582), topsie turvy (1599), topsy turvy 
(1622), tupsie-turvie (1640), topsi-turvy (1670), 
topsy-turvey (1705). (2) Also, in So. forms, 
with the terminal element capriciously altered, 
topsoltiria (1623), tapsalteerie (before 1796), 
tapsie-teerie (1808). (3) Also, with the first 
element reduced, top-turvye (1582). (4) With 
the second element omitted, topsey (1664). (5) 
With the elements transposed, turvy-topsy (be- 
fore 1687) ; also, in various other forms simu- 
lating for the element following top- or top- 
sy- some apparently plausible etymology 
namely, (6) simulating side! (see topside), top- 
syd-turvie (1582), topside-turvey (1594), topside- 
turvy (1713). (7) Simulating turn, topsyturny, 
spelled topsiturnie (1617), whence the verb 
topsyturn (1562), topsieturn (1606), topsiturn 
(1613). (8) Simulating both side* and turn, 
topside-turned, adj. (1637). (9) Simulating set 1 , 
topset-tonie (1558), topset-twvie (1569), topset 
tirvi (1573). (10) Deliberately expanded into 
a form impossible as an independent original, 
topside the other waie (1586), topside tother way 
(1656), topside turfway (see under topside). The 
earlier etymologies, indicated in the above 
forms, are a part of the history of the word, 
and are accordingly here formally stated, with 
topsyturvyflcation 
the later explaiiations attempted, nearly in a 
chronological order: (a) As if < top 1 + side 1 (see 
topside) + -turvy (left unexplained), (b) As if 
orig. "the top side turned" (Minsheu, 1617), < 
top 1 -r-side 1 + turn + -ecft. (c) As if < top 1 + 
-sy (left unexplained) + turn + -y 1 . (d) As if 
< top 1 + set 1 + -turvy (left unexplained), (e) 
As if orig. top side the other way, topside tother 
way (so Grose, 1785; Trench, 1855; Wedg- 
wood, 1872). Various other explanations, all 
absurd, are given by (/) Skinner (1671) and 
Bailey (1727), (g) Coles (1677), (h) Miege 
(1687), (0 Grose (1785), (j) Brewer ("Diet, of 
Phrase and Fable ") (k) According to Skeat's 
first supposition("Etym.Dict.,"ed. 1882; "Con- 
cise Etym. Diet.," ed. 1882), prob. orig. "top- 
side turvy (as reflected in the form topside- 
turvy, above mentioned), i. e. ' with the upper 
side (put) turfy,' i. e. laid on the earth's sur- 
face, *turvy standing for turfy. Turfy, how- 
ever, could not mean 'put on the turf' or 
' turned toward the turf.' (I) According to Dr. 
F. Hall (in the "Nation," March 28, 1889, from 
which article, and from Dr. Hall's book "On 
Adjectives in -able," some of the above forms 
are taken), prob. orig. *top so tuny, *top so 
being parallel to up so in up so down (and "top 
so turvy being altered to topside-turvey, as up 
so down to upside down), and *turvy, *tervy, 
being connected with the obs. verb terve, in 
comp. overtcrve, fall, tr. throw down, cast, as 
used in the "strange compound" toppe over 
terve: see terve. (m) A similar view is taken 
by Skeat ("Etym. Diet.," Supp., 1884, p. 831; 
"Principles of Eng. Etym.," 1st ser., 1889, 
E. 428). That is to say, topsyturvy, starting 
?om the earliest recorded form topsy-tervy 
(1528), is < top 1 + so 1 , adv., + "tervy, over- 
turned, < ME. terven, throw, torvien, throw, < 
AS. torfian, throw : see terve, torve 1 , and of. turf 2 . 
This view, assuming that -turvy, -tervy, is an ac- 
com. form, made to agree terminally with topsy-, 
for "tuned, *terved, pp. of ME. terven, upset, is 
prob. correct. The eleven other explanations 
are certainly wrong. The phrase evidently 
originated in ME., and was prob. confused not 
only with the verb terve, toppe-overterve, but 
also with similar phrases, like topsails over, and, 
elliptieally, topsail, upset (to which the peculiar 
forms topsoltiria, tapsalteerie are prob. in part 
due : see topsail), and top over tail (see under 
top 1 ).} Upside down; in reverse of the nat- 
ural order; hence, in a state of confusion or 
chaos : formerly sometimes followed by down. 
He tourneth all thynge topsy tervy. 
Roy and Barlow, Rede Me and Be Nott Wrothe (1628, 
[ed. Arber), p. 51. 
Now, beholde, all my enterprise bee quite pluckte backe, 
and my purposes tourned cleane topse-torve. 
Barnaby Rich, Farewell to Military Life (ed. 1846), p. 29. 
His trembling Tent all topsie turuie wheels. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Ark. 
We shall o're-turne it topsie-turuy downe. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV. (fol. 1623), iv. 1. 
Here the winds not only blow together, but they turn 
the whole body of the ocean topsy-turvy. 
Goldsmith, Hyperbole. 
An* warl'ly cares, an' warl'ly men, 
May a' gae tapsalteerie, O. 
Burns, Green Grow the Rashes. 
topsyturvy (top-si-ter'vi), a. [< topsyturvy, 
adv.} Turned upside down; upset; hence, 
confused; disordered; chaotic. 
Tush, man ; in this topsy-turvy world friendship and 
bosom-kindness are but made covers for mischief, means 
to compass ill. Chapman, Widow's Tears, v. 
The topsy-turvy commonwealth of sleep. 
Hawthorne, Seven Gables, i. 
topsyturvy (top-si-ter'vi), n. [< topsyturvy, a. 
and v.} A topsyturvy condition; great dis- 
order; confusion; chaos. 
Insane patients whose system, all out of joint, finds 
matter for screaming laughter in mere topsy-turvy. 
George Eliot, Theophrastus Such, x. 
topsyturvy (top-si-ter'vi), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
topsyturvied, ppr. topsyturvying. [Formerly 
also topsyturvey-; < topsyturvy, adv. Cf. topsy- 
turn.} To turn upside down ; upset. 
My poor mind is all topsy-turvied. 
Richardson, Pamela, II. 40. 
topsyturvydom (top-si-ter'vi-dum), n. [< top- 
syturvy + -dom.} A state of affairs or a region 
in which everything is topsyturvy. [Colloq.] 
Under the heading Topsy-Turcydom, the author says 
. . . that the Japanese do many things in a way that 
runs directly counter to European ideas of what is natural 
and proper. N. and Q., 7th ser. , X. 286. 
topsyturvyfication (top-si -ter" vi-fi-ka ' shon ) , 
. [< topsyturvy + -fy + -ation (see -fy).} An 
