north. dial. Forms: 3–4 sti, 5 stegh, stiȝe, 5–7 stye, 5, 6, 9 stie, 8 steeigh, sty, 9 stey, 5– stee. [a. ON. stige, stege wk. masc. (MSw. stighi, mod.Sw. stege, Da. stige), f. OTeut. root *stĭʓ-: see STY v.1 Cf. OE. stiʓe str. masc., ‘ascension,’ MLG. stege fem. step, staircase, OHG. stega fem. (MHG. stege) step, staircase, ladder.

1

  The Eng. word has always been confined to northern dialects showing strong Scandinavian influence. The form stee shows that the original form had a short i.]

2

  A ladder.

3

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3779. In slepe he sagh stand vp a sti, Fra his heued right to þe ski.

4

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 1437. Sum stepis vp on sties to þe stane wallis.

5

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 309. Sho … gatt a stye & clam vp at a hy wall to a wyndow of þe prison.

6

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxxiv. 90. And sties also are ordande þore, With stalworthe steeles as mystir wore. Bothe some schorte and some lang.

7

1567–8.  in Fabric Rolls York Minster (Surtees), 114. To Mr. Watson for a great long stie, 8s.

8

164[?].  Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 137. Our longe styes lye allsoe under this helme all winter.

9

1674.  Ray, N. C. Words, A Stee: a ladder.

10

c. 1746.  J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial., Wks. (1862), 44. We reeart th’ Steeigh sawfly ogen th’ Wough under th’ Eawl-hoyle.

11

1804.  J. Hodgson, in Raine, Life (1857), I. 25. I could always frighten them well by going a few steps up the stee and showing my black head.

12

1881.  [Richard Ashe King], in Cornh. Mag., Jan., 126. Our Nancy’s husband’s brother, fell off the stee and was took to t’ Infirmary.

13

  b.  attrib.

14

1483.  Cath. Angl., 360/2. A Stee staffe, scalare.

15