Category:Steeple

Stee"ple, n. Etym: [oe. stepel, as. stepel, st; akin to e. steep, a.] (arch.)

Defn: a spire; also, the tower and spire taken together; the whole of A structure if the roof is of spire form. See spire. "a weathercock On a steeple." Shak. Rood steeple. See rood tower, under rood. -- steeple bush (bot.), a low shrub (spiræa tomentosa) having dense Panicles of minute rose-colored flowers; hardhack. -- steeple chase, a race across country between a number of Horsemen, to see which can first reach some distant object, as a Church steeple; hence, a race over a prescribed course obstructed by Such obstacles as one meets in riding across country, as hedges, Walls, etc. -- steeple chaser, one who rides in a steeple chase; also, a horse Trained to run in a steeple chase. -- steeple engine, a vertical back-acting steam engine having the Cylinder beneath the crosshead. -- steeple house, a church. [obs.] Jer. Taylor.