uppity

Meaning

Adjective

• Presumptuous, above oneself, self-important; arrogant, snobbish, haughty.
• Exceeding one's station or position, assuming prerogatives to which one is not entitled.

Origin

• Fanciful extension of up + --ity/-ety, an extended form of -y; compare biggity and hippity (and possibly also persnickety, pernickety). First attested around 1880 in Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris to describe Jack Sparrer (Jack Sparrow), who tattled on Br'er Rabbit (see quotations below). Compare uppish.