Obs. exc. dial. In 4 stayre, 4–5 staire, 9 dial. stair, steer, etc.: (see Eng. Dial. Dict.) [OE. *stǽʓer (in comb. wiðer-stǽʓre ‘prerupti,’ Voc. c. 1050 in Wr.-Wülcker, 470):—OTeut. type *staiʓrjo-, f. *staiʓ-: see STAIR sb.] Steep.
a. 1175. Twelfth Cent. Hom. (E.E.T.S.), 110. Þe wæȝ is swiðe heah & swiðe stæȝer þe lædeþ us to heofene.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 1022. Þise twelue de-gres wern brode & stayre.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 4828. Till he was comen till a cliffe at to þe cloudis semed, Þat was so staire & so stepe þe store me tellis.
16[?]. As it befell one Saturday, 26, in Percy Fol. MS. (1867), I. 244. As I went vp Kelsall wood, & vp that banke that was soe staire, I looked ouer my left sholder where I was wont to see my deere.
