Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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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-stane, Stappynstain, Stopping stane, n. Also: steipping stean, stepping ston(n)e, steeping-, stapping ston(e. [ME and e.m.E. steping-stone (c1325), stoppyngston (c1340), stepping stone (1550); Step v.] A stone placed to facilitate passage over a stream, etc., chiefly pl. a series of these. Also fig. b. To stand on steeping stones, to act in a cautious fashion. 1532 Haddington Chart. 26.
Anent the mele hauches lyand one the north syde of the walter of Tyne … and the hauch of the suth syde of the saide walter beside the stappynstainis 1562 Fam. Rose 236.
Passand west to the hie gaitt, marchit be stanis to the auld marche dike and stopping stanis 1612 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 96.
At ony p[ar]t of the mylne lead fra the steping stanes doun to the cloisis mouth 1618 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 371.
Sua discending doun the Fluiket burne till it cum to the Cadgerfuird … and fra thyn ascending to the standen wtherwayis steipping steanis on the wast syde of the Shank 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS 12 April.
They … past ower the slap at the stepping stonnes 1655 Lamont Diary 91.
The water … ran away some of the stapping stons att Nether Largofig. 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 449.
He has gone over the back of death, and made it a stepping-stone to heavenb. 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 16.
Amongs the best merriments we had was my French … for I stood not on steeping stones to have assurance that it was right what I was to say