steeve

¹ American  

[steev] / stiv /

verb (used with object)

steeved, steeving

1. to stuff (cotton or other cargo) into a ship's hold.

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noun

1. a long derrick or spar, with a block at one end, used in stowing cargo in a ship's hold.

steeve ² American  

[steev] / stiv /

verb (used without object)

steeved, steeving

1. (of a bowsprit or the like) to incline upward at an angle instead of extending horizontally.

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verb (used with object)

steeved, steeving

1. to set (a spar) at an upward inclination.

steeve ¹ British  

/ stiːv /

noun

1. a spar having a pulley block at one end, used for stowing cargo on a ship

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verb

1. (tr) to stow (cargo) securely in the hold of a ship

steeve ² British  

/ stiːv /

verb

1. to incline (a bowsprit or other spar) upwards or (of a bowsprit) to incline upwards at an angle from the horizontal

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noun

1. such an angle

Etymology

Origin of steeve¹

1475–85; probably < Spanish estibar to cram < Latin stīpāre to stuff, pack tightly; akin to Old English stīf stiff

Origin of steeve²

First recorded in 1635–45; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Thou ance was i’ the foremost rank, A filly, buirdly, steeve, an’ swank, An set weel down a shapely shank, As e’er tread yird; An’ could hae flown out-owre a stank, Like ony bird.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

And with that he waved his hand, cried to his men, and rode off like the steeve and dour persecutor that he was.

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)

At length— "It seems to me a gey steeve case," he said.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 7 by Various

I knows the steeve o’ that bowsprit too well to be mistook as to what that brig is.

From A Middy in Command A Tale of the Slave Squadron by Hodgson, Edward S.

This they did all day long for several days, until their hides were all discharged, when a gang of them were sent on board the Alert, to help us steeve our hides.

From Two Years Before the Mast by Dana, Richard Henry