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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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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.

Steping, Steiping, vbl. n.² Also: stepyn, steeping, stipeing. [ME and e.m.E. stepyng (1395-6), steeping (1585); Step(e v.]

1. The action or process of soaking a. Barley, in brewing. b. Fish.a. 1524 Wigtown B. Ct. 151b.
Gebe Blane to James Portar challangis for the wrang castin of thre doggis in his well & steping of malt & lyming of hidis in it 1640 Glasgow Maltmen 38.
Contraveners to find caution also from stipeing of any malt quhill the same be paidb. 1643 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 535.
Ane bowine for steiping of fyshe

2. A quantity of barley, enough to undergo soaking for malting on a single occasion. 1550 Dundee B. Ct. II 16 (18 Nov.).
The making of half ane steiping of malt 1553 Dundee B. Ct. II 242b (7 Aug.).
Twa merkis of money for twa stepingis of malt making 1555 Crail B. Ct. 29 July.
He mayd v stepyn[i]s mallt apone his kyll & barne 1557 Dundee B. Ct. III 112a (26 March).
James Patre grantit hym ressauit twa stepingis of beer to be maid in malt 1682 Edinb. City Archives Letters II (16).
As for the pryces of the victuall heir … I could gett perhaps for parcells or steipings as much att Montross as heir, yet it never does so much good in smalls as when all is sold togeather 1688 Brechin Test. VII 184b.
To steepings of bear estimat to lxxxviij lib.

3. comb. With fat (Fat n.¹) = stepfat (Step(e v. 3 b). 1560 Treas. Acc. XI 29.
Item, for foure pontionis and ane pipe to mak steping fattis, xxiiij s. 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV 89.
Fyve kill steiping fattis for malt