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

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 Munro, Neil

"To rake," which is applied to spars, is from the Saxon racian, to incline;—"to steeve," which is applied to the bowsprit, and often pronounced "stave," is from the Italian stivare.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 12, October, 1858 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.

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)