Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

(Stepill hede,) Stepill heid, n. Also: stepil-, steipill-, steiple-, stipel-, stiple- and -head. [Stepil(l n. and Hede n.¹ 6.] The top of a steeple, the upper part, exterior or interior, of the structure, in various contexts. 1538 Lynd. Justing 32.
Tary (quod James) … The feind ane thing I can se bot the lift. Nor more can I (quod Johne) be goddes breid, I se no thing except the steipill heid 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 240.
Ane duble falcon being vpon the stiple heid … being schot … at the men that come furth of Leyth 1583 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 287.
Jhonn Thomesoun masoun the sowm of fyve pund … for repairing … the stepill heid 1587–8 Dundee Treas. Acc.
To the pessis in the stipel heid 1600-1610 Melvill 18.
We past to the head of the muir to sie the fyre of joy burning upon the stiple head of Montrose 1603 Dundee Treas. Acc.
For bering the chimla to the stepil head & down again 1603 Crim. Trials II 423.
And the heid to be set vpone ane prik vpoun the stepill-heid of Peiblis 1649 Berw. Nat. C. XV 348.
Not [many people] will be without shout and cry frome of the stipleheid 1670 Orkney Rentals App. 62.
For repairing and mending the lofts in the steiple and steiple hied 1671 Orkney Rentals App. 64.
The steiple heid … the timber-work pertaining to the bells and the knock-house wer consumed to ashes 1679 T. Brown Diary 8.
The bells of St. Magnus kirk … was fallen be burneing of the steiple head