'upright' originates from Old English, specifically the combination of 'up' and 'riht', where 'up' meant 'up' and 'riht' meant 'straight' or 'direct'.

'upright' changed from Old English 'upriht' into Middle English forms such as 'upright' and eventually became the modern English word 'upright'.

Initially, it meant 'up + straight' in a literal, positional sense; over time it kept that sense and also developed a figurative sense of 'morally straight' or 'honest'.