Stairs
/stɛrz/noun
A set of steps for going from one level to another.
Did you know?The modern word comes from Old English *stǣger* / *stǣgers* family forms, tied to the idea of climbing and stepping upward rather than any mystical meaning, but it sits beside a whole root-family of movement words that shaped English.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steyg-
“to climb, rise, or step up”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*stīganą
“to climb, go up”
Old English
OE
stǣger
“a stair, step, or staircase”
Middle English
ME
staire / steir
“a step or flight of steps”
Modern English
English
stairs
“a set of steps for ascending or descending”