a steep path; e.g. Stickney (the island or watery meadow by the steep path); Kirchsteg (the steep path to the church); Durnsteeg (thorny path); Stiegmühle (the mill on the steep path); Amsteg (at the steep path).
STEORT (A.S.),
STERZ (Old Ger.),
the tail—in topography a point; e.g. Startpoint, in Devonshire; Starston (the town on the point); Sterzhausen, Sterzmühle, Staartpolder—v. HAUS, MÜHLE, POLDER; Staartven (the marsh on the point).
STEPPES (Sclav.),
an uncultivated waste—a word applied to the extensive desert plains in Russia.
STER, or ESTER,
in Brittany, a stream; e.g. Ster-boueux (the muddy stream); Stercaer (the stream at the fort); Sterpoulder (of the black pool), etc. According to Forsteman, there is a Teutonic river-root, str, which he finds in the names of 100 German streams; e.g. Elster, Alster, Wilster, Gelster, Laster, and Ister—an ancient name of the Danube—Stour, Stura, etc.
STER (Scand.),
Old Norse setr (a station or place), contracted from stadr (a place); bu-stadr (a dwelling-place), contracted to bister or buster; e.g. Grunaster (green place); Keldabister (the place at the well or fountain); Kirkbuster (the dwelling at the church); Hesting-ster (the settlement of Hesting). The same word appears in the names given by the Danes to three of the provinces of Ireland—Ulster, for the Irish Uladh, i.e. Ulla-ster; Leinster, Irish Laighen or Layn; Munster, Irish Mumha (named after a king).
STOC, STOW (Teut.),