Sc. Also steik. [Northern ME. *stĭk(e, *stēk(e:—OE. stice masc., STITCH sb.]
1. A STITCH (in needlework or knitting).
1737. Ramsay, Sc. Prov., 30. For want of a steek a shoe may be tint.
1786. Burns, Twa Dogs, 57. A bonie, silken purse … whare thro’ the steeks, The yellow letter’d Geordie keeks.
1823. Galt, Entail, I. iv. 31. With the help of a steek or twa of darning … it would do very well.
1900. R. J. Muir, Myst. Muncraig, iii. 46. Ye maun e’idently watch every turn o’ the shears and every steek o’ the needle.
fig. phrase. 1822. Galt, Sir A. Wylie, ii. I hope ye’ll allow me to gie her an opportunity to tak up the steik in her stocking.
1834–5. M. Scott, Cruise Midge, xi. When the steek in my father’s purse, let down by my mother’s spiritual propensities, was taken up.
b. Every steek: every ‘stitch’ (of clothing, etc.).
1820. Scott, Monast., xxxv. They would tirl every steek of claithes from our back.
1894. Crockett, Raiders, x. We could see the king’s ship coming … wi’ every steek o’ canvas set.
c. Phr. To keep steeks with; to keep pace or time with.
a. 1801. R. Gall, Tint Quey, 39, Poems (1819), 27. Then wi’ her hands her tongue kept steeks.
1896. Crockett, Grey Man, vi. 42. The wearers of the butcher’s colours had enough to do to keep steeks with us.
2. A strenuous spell or turn of an occupation.
1895. Crockett, Men of Moss-Hags, xxv. 185. I had given up all thought of escape, and was putting in hard steeks at the praying.
1912. A. Reid, Forfar Worthies, 86. Aff I ran at a fine steek.
