Definition of run up

The origin of the phrase "run up" can be traced back to the Middle English period. During this time, the expression "ryne" or "rynen," which means "to climb" or "to ascend," was commonly used. The term "rynen" evolved into the Old Northern English phrase "rynen upe" or "rynen op," which means "to climb up" or "to ascend." Over time, this phrase evolved, and in the early 17th century, the expression "ruyne" or "ruyne uppe" became popular. "Ruyne" originally meant "a sudden ruin," but in this context, it was used to describe the act of ascending quickly, perhaps because the movement seemed completed abruptly. In the late 18th century, "ruyne" began to change, with people dropping the "u" from the word to create "ruyn." This new form of the word became popular, and by the 19th century, it had developed into "run," which was commonly used in sports like cricket to refer to the act of scoring runs. Finally, around the turn of the 20th century, the expression "run up" emerged. It was originally used in association with cricket, where it meant the act of delivering a ball towards the opposite end of the pitch. However, the term has since expanded to describe any situation in which something is quickly ascended or accumulated, such as running up a debt or running up a flight of stairs. So in simple terms, "run up" has its origins in the Middle English expression "rynen upe" or "rynen op," which over time evolved into the forms we see today, from "ruyne uppe" and "ruyn" to "run up."