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.
Stewis, n. (pl.). Also: stew(e)s, stues, steue. [ME and e.m.E. stu (c1305), stuyues (Piers Plowman), stewe (Chaucer), stwes (Gower), stewis (c1450), stues (1550) a stove, vapour bath, brothel, OF estuve (11th c. in Larousse) a vapour bath.] A brothel. Also fig.1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 67.
On the north-syde ar ane few beggeris cotages, then reddy to fall, quhilk sumtyme seruit for stewis for certane preistis and monkis 1604 James VI Tobacco 96/15.
Yet can you neither be merry at an ordinarie nor lasciuious in the stewes if you lacke tobacco to prouoke your appetite to any of those sorts of recreation 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii 367.
They openly lycentiat three thousand common stewes 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix 40.
A playne stewes or brothel house 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 83.
Let us mark the reason whey the Pope permits bordel houses at Rome … O, sayes the Pope, the toleration of stues in this place [etc.] 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) ii 39.
So we may prove … That stews are places of contritionfig. 1554 Knox III 298.
Fearest thou not to open such a doore to al iniquitie that whole England shal be made a common steue to Spanyardes?
