Origin and history of uplink

early 15c., "one of a series of rings or loops which form a chain; section of a cord," probably from Old Norse *hlenkr or a similar Scandinavian source (compare Old Norse hlekkr "link," in plural, "chain;" Old Swedish lænker "chain, link," Norwegian lenke "a link," Danish lænke "a chain," German Gelenk "articulation, a joint of the body; a link, ring"), from Proto-Germanic *khlink- (source also of German lenken "to bend, turn, lead"), from PIE root *kleng- "to bend, turn." Related to lank, flank, flinch.

The noun is not found in Old English, where it is represented by lank "the hip" ("turn of the body"), hlencan (plural) "armor." Meaning "a division of a sausage made in a continuous chain" is from mid-15c. Meaning "anything serving to connect one thing or part with another" is from 1540s. Sense of "means of telecommunication between two points" is from 1911. Missing link between man and apes dates to 1880.

a prefix bringing various senses of up, including "toward a more elevated position; at or to a source, head, or center; in or to an erect position;" originally from Old English up (adv.). It corresponds to Dutch op-, German auf-, Old Norse upp-.

Modern formations with it include upchuck, update, upfield, upgrade (v.), upload, upswing (n.), upscale, uptight, all from 20c.

The prefix was highly productive in Old and Middle English (and among poets of all eras), forming up-verbs where modern English uses "verb up." Some of these (uplift) survive.

Many do not: Upbear, upblaze, upblow, upbreak, updress, upgive, uphang, upshut, upsit, upspeak, uptie, upthrow, upwake, etc. The old verbs are not so much archaic as dissolved. In a few cases two forms survive to sustain (sometimes contrary) distinct senses: Hold up and uphold; set up and upset.