Etymology · Proto-Indo-European
*stebʰ-
4 English words descend from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ-, most common first.
- stepAn advance or movement made from one foot to the other; a pace.
- stevenVoice, especially when loud or strong.
- stapleA town containing merchants who have exclusive right, under royal authority, to purchase or produce certain goods for export; also, the body of such merchants seen as a group.
- distaffA device to which a bundle of natural fibres (often wool, flax, or cotton) is attached for temporary storage, before being drawn off gradually to spin thread. A traditional distaff is a staff with flax fibres tied loosely to it (as indicated by the etymology of the word), but modern distaffs are often made of cords weighted with beads, and attached to the wrist.