Today, we’re looking at the word step.
Step as a verb comes from the Old English steppan/staeppan, while the noun comes from steppa/staepe/stepe, where it meant a stair or stepping. So, pretty much what it’s like today. It comes from the West Germanic stap-, tread and the Proto Indo European stebh, which could mean stem, post, or to support—and is the origin word for staff. Words are weird, right?
I say that a lot. Well, it’s never not been true.
Sources
Tony Jebson’s page on the Origins of Old English
