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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Stepe,) Steip, n. Also: steep. [Late ME and e.m.E. stipe (c1430), stepe (1486), steep (1576); Step(e v.]

1. a. The process of steeping or soaking barley in beer-making. b. A quantity of barley sufficient for one such soaking.The quot. for 1663 may belong in 2.a., b. 1605 Edinb. Test. XL 203b.
The defunctis part of ane steip of malt 1634 Edinb. Test. LVI 254b.
In thair possessioune twa steipes of beir 1657 Nicolson Diurnals 2 Dec.
8 bolls (bin) to the malt man for his first steip 1663 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 330.
The said maltmen who will not suffer him … to make malt brew vent or sell aill or beir … and that they had lykwayis arreisted his malt and let the burne aff his steip 1668 Melrose Reg. Rec. II 222.
Ane steip of beare 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 120.
He had at the tyme tuo steips of malt upon the floore 1688 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 248.
She haveing a steep of good and sufficient malt lyeing besyde her quherof she was in use to breu good aill 1697 Seafield Corr. 212.
The second loadning of victuall … came here in prettie good condition. Only a steep or tuo wes like to heat, and wes presentlie putt to malting

2. A place where barley is steeped. 1600 Glasgow Prot. XI 159.
[Andrew Flemyng, maltman, citizen, resigned in favour of himself and … his spouse … a kiln, with the equal half of the privilege of the] steip 1609 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 62.
To sett out the stair to his maltbarne in the baksyd with his steip under the saim 1617 Macleod P. (Reg. H.) 1 June.
The maltsteip of the maltbarne c1657–9 Glasgow B. Rec. III 540.
Johne Gilhagies kill and steep, 5 s. 1666 Peebles B. Rec. II 71.
The said supplicant hes built ane steip in the North-gate 1670 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 478.
Maltmen … who saw the beer before he put it in the steep

3. In steip, soaking, steeping, more generally. 1621 Edinb. Test. LI 60.
In stifing pairtlie maid and pairtlie in steip sex thowsand pund wecht