[f. STEP v. + -ER1.]
1. A horse with good paces and showy action. Often with adj., good, sure, etc.; cf. HIGH-STEPPER.
1835. [Sir. G. Stephen], Adv. in Search of Horse, ii. 32. If he is ‘a beautiful stepper,’ you will find that he has the action of a peacock.
1850. Smedley, Frank Fairlegh, xl. 330. ‘By Jove! what splendid steppers!’ was Lawless’s exclamation, as I drove up.
1908. A. Kinross, Joan of Garioch, x. 62. A quiet closed brougham passed by, drawn by two fiery Hungarian steppers.
2. slang. a. The treadmill. b. pl. The feet.
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, III. 380. These thoughts used to come over me when I was ‘on the stepper,’ that is, on the wheel.
1853. Househ. Words, VIII. 75. The feet are steppers.
1874. Slang Dict., 309. Stepper, the treadmill.
3. colloq. = step-girl (STEP sb. 18).
1884. All Yr. Round, 18 Oct., 29/2. Door-step cleaners—known among themselves and their own class as steppers.
