Definition of the word buy up

The phrase "buy up" is a phrasal verb that describes both the action of purchasing multiple items and the act of acquiring something quickly in large quantities. Its origins can be traced back to the 16th century, when the word "upp" was used in Middle English to mean "up" or "above." Over time, the term "upp" evolved and was eventually adopted into Lowland Scots, a dialect of Scottish English. In Lowland Scots, "upp" served as a prefix for various words, including "buy," to indicate an increase in quantity or intensity. This prefixed form eventually made its way into English, where it appeared as "by-opp" or simply "byupp," as seen in Grevel Lindop's 1843 dictionary of Lowland Scots. In the mid-19th century, the form "byupp" began to change as the "y" was omitted, resulting in "bupp." As the phonetics of the word shifted and the prefix "by-" was dropped, the phrase "buy up" became commonly used in English to indicate a rapid or comprehensive purchase. In summary, the phrase "buy up" originated from the Lowland Scots word "bupp," which itself came from the Middle English prefix "upp," meaning "up" or "above." As the prefix evolved and was incorporated into English, it came to indicate an increase in quantity, leading to the development of the modern phrasal verb "buy up."