tup

1. noun

a) A male sheep, a ram.

... to tie up rams, which could not be supposed to much used to handling ... having often heard for a proverb, as mad as a tup in an halter

b) The head of a hammer, and particularly of a steam-driven hammer.

Those familiar with drop forging are accustomed to sizing drop hammers as 1 ton or 5 ton or whatever. This measure of the size is simply the weight of the tup. The total weight of the helve of No 2 is about 6.4 tons.

Syn: ram

2. verb

a) To mate; used of a ram mating with a ewe.

Tupping is the term used for when the rams cover the ewes. For our flock, this takes place in November when the ewes naturally come into season.

b) To have sex with, to bonk, etc.

"Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe." – (used metaphorically in the play).

3. adjective

a) silly

b) blunt, dull