▪ I. steeping, vbl. n.1
(ˈstiːpɪŋ)
[f. steep v.1 + -ing1.]
1. The action or process of steep v.1; an instance of this.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 474/2 Stepynge, yn lycure, infusio, illiqueacio. 14.. MS. Sloane 73 lf. 201 Whanne it haþ leye þerynne a nyȝt on steping. 1548 Act 2 & 3 Edw. VI, c. 10 §2 That the same [barly malt] shall have in makinge thereof, that ys to saye, in the fatt flower stepinge..of the same Malte, thre wekes at the leste. 1626 Bacon Sylva §500 The third [means of making plants medicinable] is, the Steeping of the Seed or Kernell in some Liquour, wherein the Medicine is Infused. 1790 Act 30 Geo. III, c. 3 §12 The Produce of Two or more Steepings of Corn or Grain. 1888 Daily News 7 July 2/7 The rains which have recently fallen should provide in all parts of Ireland ample water for steeping. |
2. A liquor in which grain, etc. is steeped.
| 1585 Higins Junius' Nomencl. 465/2 Infusio,..a steeping or any liquor wherein graine or such like is layde to steepe. 1626 Bacon Sylva §402 It may be some Steeping will agree best with some Seeds. 1842 E. J. Lance Cottage Farmer 9 Salt⁓petre is the best steeping that corn can have. |
3. A liquor obtained by steeping; an infusion.
| 1898 Westm. Gaz. 27 Jan. 2/1 His drink for the day is restricted to the milk of eighty cows and the steeping of seventy-five parcels of tea. |
4. attrib. and Comb., as steeping place, steeping pool; esp. in the names of utensils (cf. steep v.1 5), as steeping back (back n.2), steeping barrel, † steeping fat (fat n.1), steeping lead (lead n.1 5), steeping tub, steeping vat.
| 1820 W. Scoresby Acc. Arctic Reg. II. 400 *Steeping⁓backs. |
| 1480–1 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 97 Lardar. piscium. Quinque Stepyngtubbez,..ij *stepyngbarellez. |
| 1459–60 Ibid. 89 Item in le fleshlardar..v *stepyngfattez. 1574 Richmond Wills (Surtees) 253 In the kylne..one steaping fatt of stone. |
| 1395–6 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 136 In empcione j *Stepynglede. |
| 1766 Complete Farmer s.v. Hemp 4 A 1/1 To make a small stream of water pass through the *steeping places, thereby to change the water. |
| 1871 Carlyle in Mrs. Carlyle's Lett. (1883) I. 76 Like flax thrown into the *steeping pool. 1480–1 *Stepyngtubbes [see above]. 1633 T. James Voy. 93 They would steale our meate out of the steeping tubs. |
| 1731 Miller Gard. Dict. s.v. Anil N/2 The first [fraud] is the Beating the Plant too much in the *Steeping-Vat. 1861 Chamb. Encycl. II. 149/2 The cloth is immersed for about four hours in a steeping vat. |
▪ II. steeping, vbl. n.2
(ˈstiːpɪŋ)
[f. steep v.2 + -ing1.]
The action or process of tilting or giving an (upward) inclination to the plough in ploughing.
| 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm I. 400 The remedy for this error is..to press harder upon the stilts..and..bring the sock nearer the surface of the ground, and this is called ‘steeping’. |
▪ III. steeping, ppl. a.1
(ˈstiːpɪŋ)
[f. steep v.1 + -ing2.]
That steeps. Of rain: Soaking. dial.
| 1778 W. H. Marshall Minutes Agric. 27 July 1774, The hay is not much worse for the steeping rain of last night. 1877 N.W. Linc. Gloss. s.v., Well, this hes been a steepin' rain. |
▪ IV. steeping, ppl. a.2
(ˈstiːpɪŋ)
[f. steep v.2 + -ing2.]
† 1. That slopes precipitously, steep. Obs.
| a 1470 Tiptoft Cæsar v. (1530) 8 Theyr horses ronne in placys slope steepyng. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1018/2 The citie..is set vpon a little hill, and lieth verie steeping towards two of the gates. |
2. Naut. Of the surface of the sea: Sloping to the horizon.
| 1890 Clark Russell Ocean Trag. II. xv. 45 Never in all my time did so profound a sense of desolation..possess me as I stood bringing my eyes from the huge steeping plain of the sea [etc.]. |