[f. STEEP v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action or process of STEEP v.1; an instance of this.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 474/2. Stepynge, yn lycure, infusio, illiqueacio.
14[?]. MS. Sloane 73, lf. 201. Whanne it haþ leye þerynne a nyȝt on steping.
1548. Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI., c. 10. § 2. That the same [barly malt] shall have in makinge thereof, that ys to saye, in the fatt flower stepinge … of the same Malte, thre wekes at the leste.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 500. The third [means of making plants medicinable] is, the Steeping of the Seed or Kernell in some Liquour, wherein the Medicine is Infused.
1790. Act 30 Geo. III., c. 3 § 12. The Produce of Two or more Steepings of Corn or Grain.
1888. Daily News, 7 July, 2/7. The rains which have recently fallen should provide in all parts of Ireland ample water for steeping.
2. A liquor in which grain, etc., is steeped.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 465/2. Infusio,… a steeping or any liquor wherein graine or such like is layde to steepe.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 402. It may be some Steeping will agree best with some Seeds.
1842. Lance, Cottage Farmer, 9. Saltpetre is the best steeping that corn can have.
3. A liquor obtained by steeping; an infusion.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 27 Jan., 2/1. His drink for the day is restricted to the milk of eighty cows and the steeping of seventy-five parcels of tea.
4. attrib. and Comb., as steeping place, pool; esp. in the names of utensils (cf. STEEP v.1 5), as steeping back (BACK sb.2), barrel, † fat (FAT sb.1), lead (LEAD sb.1 5), tub, vat.
1820. W. Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., II. 400. *Steeping-backs.
1480–1. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 97. Lardarpiscium. Quinque Stepyngtubbez,… ij *stepyngbarellez. Ibid. (1459–60), 89. Item in le fleshlardar … v *stepyngfattez.
1574. Richmond Wills (Surtees), 253. In the kylne … one steaping fatt of stone.
1395–6. Durham. Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 136. In empcione j *Stepynglede.
1766. Complete Farmer, s.v. Hemp 4 A 1/1 To make a small stream of water pass through the *steeping places, thereby to change the water.
1871. Carlyle, in Mrs. Carlyle’s Lett. (1883), I. 76. Like flax thrown into the *steeping pool.
1480–1. *Stepyngtubbes [see above].
1633. T. James, Voy., 93. They would steale our meate out of the steeping tubs.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Anil N/2 The first [fraud] is the Beating the Plant too much in the *Steeping-Vat.
1861. Chamb. Encycl., II. 149/2. The cloth is immersed for about four hours in a steeping vat.
