Chiefly Naut. Also 8 steave, Sc. stieve, 9 steve. [a. F. estiver or its source, Pr. estibar, Catal. stibar, Sp., Pg. estivar, corresp. to It. stivare to crowd, pack tightly:—L. stīpāre. Cf. the variant STIVE v.] trans. To compress and stow (wool, cotton or other cargo) in a ship’s hold, etc.; also to pack tightly. Hence Steeving vbl. sb.
1482. Grant, 30 April, in Cal. Patent Rolls (1901), 300. [An occupation called ‘le pressing’ or ‘stenyng’ (read steuyng = stevyng) of wools].
1644. Manwayring, Seamans Dict., 102. Also the Merchants call the stowing of their Cottons (which they force in with skrewez so much that the Decks will rise 6, or 8, inches) Steveing of Cottons.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., Penalties & Forfeit., 5. [To] put, press, or steeve Wooll or Woollen Yarn into any Pipe, But, or Hogshead.
1709. M. Bruce, Soul-Confirm., 20 (Jam.). I am even like a sojourner with his knapsack on his back…. I stieved the knapsack well.
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 89. As in Stowing (term’d Steaving) a Ship with Wool.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxix. Each morning we went ashore, and … brought off as many hides as we could steeve in the course of the day.
absol. 1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxix. All hands were called aboard to steeve.
