Middle English Dictionary Entry
stẹ̄pel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | stẹ̄pel n. Also stepil(le, stepile, stepul(le, steple, (in names) stepele, steppul, stepple & stipel, stipil(e, stippil, stiple, (in place names) stupel(e & (error) steputt; pl. stepeles, etc. & (error) tepells. |
| Etymology | OE stīpel, stȳpel, stēpel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Associated quotations
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)90/27 : On þan nigeðen dæige tofealleð castles & steples & hus & circen & ealle getimbrunge lytle & mycele, for þan þe þa synfulle hæfden þæron heora wununge.
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)16/21 : C=stel is geclypod sum heh stepel, þe byð mid wealle be-trymed.
- a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)17/32,19/37 : Wæs eadmodnysse stepel on hire, þe aferseð ealle modignysse fram þan mægeðhade..wæs mægeðhades weall on hire, þe stranglice aferrseð ealle galnysse fram eadmodnyssen steple.
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)24/218 : Þa begunnon to wurcenne þa wunderlice burh & þenne heagan stypel.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)93 : Eontas walden areran ane buruh and anne stepel.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)539 : Ȝif here were an heiȝ stepel, and a man aboue sete, [etc.].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)15b/b : Colonia: a stepel.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3040 : Mynsteris and masondewes they malle to þe erthe..Stone tepells [read: stepells] full styffe in þe strete ligges.
2.
(a) The tower of a church, building, etc.; a bell tower; the bell-chamber or upper portion of a church's tower; (b) the representation of a church steeple; (c) ~ dore, the door that leads to the church steeple; ~ top, the tip of the steeple; ~ werk, the construction or maintenance of the steeple; ~ windoue, a window in the steeple.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1070 : Hi..geodon into þe mynstre..Clumben upp to þe stepel.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10860 : In to þe stepel of oseneye þe legat fleu vor fere.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)158 : Hye seiȝe..a chirche wiþ stepel fair & heiȝe.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)180/28 : Hi byeþ ase þe wedercoc þet is ope þe steple.
- c1390 Ȝhit is god (Vrn)47 : Pinacles, Steples to grounde hit [earthquake] cast.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)41/35 : It must be fled þat in þis chirche þer schewe no pride..in chalise..or vestment, neiþer in stepile.
- (1428-9) *Mun.B.Bridgewater15 : J.P. Water lygh & John Parys borwed of John Gunne & Rychard Dynt to ye mendyng of þe Styple.
- (1434) Indent.Fotheringhay in Med.Mason246 : To the west end of the said body shall be a stepyll standing [high above] the chirche upon three strong and mighty arches vawthid with stoon.
- (1447-8) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 488 : Item, vor the dyner of the man that come hydyr to se the playster of the stypyll, iij d.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.200r : In the Idus of Octobre atte Wynchecombe, suche a stroke cam doune that hit threst so that on side of the tour of the stepill that hit holwed the stonene wall to a mannes gretnesse and there hit passed in and all tobrast a grete bem.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)573/17 : Classatorium: a clapere or a styppyll.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)487/9 : In this yere..was grete wedryng of wynde..thunder and lightnyng..and it..brent Seint Paules grete steple, bothe on þe west syde and on þe south syde.
- (1452) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 976,77 : Item, half c latheys to stope owt ye dowffis of ye steputt [read: stepull]..Item, for mendyng of ye loke in ye stepulle.
- (1458-9) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 4100 : Item, for a Plomer to hely the batylmente for the stypyle, vj s.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)869 : So stood that hevenly mancyoun, With steplys & with toures hihe.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)120b : A Stepyll [Monson: Stepylle]: Campanile.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)37 : This yere the stepill of Bowchyrche fell downe.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.330 : The wind was so boistous, The stone walles, steples, houses..Were blow doune.
b
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)465/24 : Þis womman oppynd þe hyfe and fande þe wallis..wyndows..steple..& þe altar of þis chapell, all made be beis.
c
- (1426) EEWills76/7 : I bequeth to þe stepul werk of seint Alpheies by Crepulgate, x mark.
- (1446) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 484 : Item, payd for ferments to the stepyl wyndowys..vij s. x d.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)497/17 : Þe clerk saw þe preste bodie oft sithis born vp to þe steple topp with strenth of fendis.
- (a1472) Acc.Bodmin in Camd.n.s.1415 : Item, to John Hancok for xiij jornays apon the same and ouer the stypell dore..vj s. vj d.
- a1500 MSerm.Mol.(Adv 19.3.1)82 : Why hopes thu nott for sothe that ther stode wonus a coke on Seynt Pale stepull toppe?
3.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.151].
Associated quotations
a
- (1284) in Bowcock PNShrop.223 : De Stepleton.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 214 : Ricardo Stepelhode.
- (1346) Feudal Aids 4246 : Willelmus de la Stepple.
b
- (1207) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)226 : Stepele.
- (1228) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)175 : Stepelknoel.
- (1316) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)227 : Steppul Langford.
- (1316) in Kökeritz PNWight234 : Stupele.
- (1332) Name in LuSE 35171 : Aynderby Wyth Steple.
- (1359) in Fägersten PNDor.57 : Iwerne Stupelton.
- (1366) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)247 : Stepulhaston.
- (a1450) Doc.in Scrope Castle Combe259 : Truly and effectually y have don my parte in the chyrch of Stypellangford to yowr tenantes.