Stile
/staɪl/noun
A step or set of steps for climbing over a fence or wall, especially in the countryside.
Did you know?Stile comes from Old English *stigel*, from the verb *stīgan* meaning “to climb,” and it’s cousin to words like *stair* and *stairs*—all built on the same ancient idea of rising upward.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steigh-
“to climb, mount, go up”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*stīganą
“to climb, ascend”
Old English
OE
stigel
“a stile; a step or ladder-like means of climbing”
Middle English
ME
stile
“a step or ladder for climbing over a barrier”
Modern English
English
stile
“a structure for crossing a fence or wall on foot”