steeve
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
verb
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Even the very steeve of the bowsprit seemed familiar to me, and I felt certain that the superbly cut jib and handsome trysail could belong only to the Barracouta!
From The Pirate Slaver A Story of the West African Coast by William Heysham Overend
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 S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
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 Richard Henry Dana
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 Robert Burns
MacCailein Mor looked a bit annoyed, and led us at a fast pace up to the gate of the castle that stood, high towered and embrasured for heavy pieces, stark and steeve above town Inneraora.
From John Splendid The Tale of a Poor Gentleman, and the Little Wars of Lorn by Neil Munro
If it wisna' for that bowsprit bein' steeved up and th' rivets stertit in th' bows o' her, I widna' be here at a'....
From The Brassbounder A Tale of the Sea by David W. Bone
"A brown patch in the big main-topsail, and the bowsprit steeved more'n ordinary," said Joe.
From Blackbeard: Buccaneer by Frank Earle Schoonover
We continued at work in this manner until the lower hold was filled to within four feet of the beams, when all hands were called aboard to commence steeving.
From Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
The martinganes flatten in their jibs along their high steeving bowsprits and jib-booms.
From The Children of the King by F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford
We continued at work in this manner until the lower hold was filled to within four feet of the beams, when all hands were called aboard to begin steeving.
From Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
Falconer also states that a sloop differs from a cutter by having a fixed steeving bowsprit and a jib-stay.
From King's Cutters and Smugglers 1700-1855 by E. Keble (Edward Keble) Chatterton
How they called up to my mind the months of curing at San Diego, the year and more of beach and surf work, and the steeving of the ship for home!
From Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
