Where does “uppies and downies” come from?

uppies and downies (English) comes from English Down, from Middle English doun, from Old English dūn, from Proto-Germanic *dūnā, from Proto-Celtic dūnom, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.

uppies and downies (English): A traditional ball game played in Workington, West Cumbria, England, with the object of "hailing the ball" (throwing it up in the air three times) at the opposing team's goal

Definitions

  1. A traditional ball game played in Workington, West Cumbria, England, with the object of "hailing the ball" (throwing it up in the air three times) at the opposing team's goal

Ancestry of “uppies and downies”, step by step

uppies and downies traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Down

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishDownusually known as County Down
2Middle Englishdoundown
3Old Englishdūnhill, down; hill, dune; hill, mountain
4Proto-Germanic*dūnā—
5Proto-Celticdūnomstronghold, rampart
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

via English up

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishupAway from the surface of the Earth or other...
2Middle Englishupto a vertical axis
3Old Englishuppup; upstairs
4Proto-West Germanic*upp—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →Every word from Proto-Celtic dūnom →Every word from Proto-Germanic *dūnā →