English

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Etymology

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upper +‎ works

Pronunciation

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Noun

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upperworks pl (plural only)

  1. (nautical) superstructure
    • 1939 July, “Overseas Railways: Baltic Island Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 49:
      On the Visby-Västerhejde Railway there is a steam car. [...] The upperworks consist of a short clerestory coach body with end platforms and the engine chimney protruding from the roof like a stovepipe.
  2. (slang) head; brains