steep English · revision 13449

− It is [[inh|ang|stēap|t=high, lofty, deep]] (about 725, in Beowulf),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|gem-pro|*staupaz]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) cognate with Old Frisian stāp, high, and Old High German stouf, cliff,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and related to [[stoop]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) It is perhaps from an Indo-European root meaning to push or strike,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) though Boutkan doubts the wider grouping.^(Etymonline)

− Middle English stēpen is of uncertain origin, a word of “difficult etymology” according to the OED;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) it is probably cognate with Old Norse steypa, to pour out, cast, and Swedish stöpa, to steep,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) and perhaps related to Old English stēap, a cup (see [[stoup]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)