up stairs

up stairs (comparative further up stairs, superlative furthest up stairs)

1. Archaic form of upstairs.
   • 1749, [John Cleland], “[Letter the First]”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], volume I, London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC, page 176:

     I ſtept up ſtairs into my own bed-chamber, with no other thought than of pulling off my hat, &c.

   • 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 255:

     There was more dancing and singing up stairs, more wit and conversation below; […]

   • 1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Five. The End of It.”, in A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 161:

     “He’s in the dining-room, sir, along with mistress. I’ll show you up stairs, if you please.”

   • 1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “How Charles Nutter’s Tea, Pipe, and Tobacco-box Were All Set Out for Him in the Small Parlour at the Mills; and How That Night Was Passed in the House by the Church-yard”, in The House by the Church-yard. […], volume II, London: Tinsley, Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 137:

     Perhaps ’twas the state in which the poor lady lay up stairs that helped to make them excited and frightened.