(Dutch, stoep.) The steps at the entrance of a house; door-steps. It is also applied to a porch with seats, a piazza, or balustrade. This, unlike most of the words received from the Dutch, has extended, in consequence of the uniform style of building that prevails throughout the country, beyond the bounds of New York State, as far as the backwoods of Canada.
About nine o'clock all three of us passed up Wall street, on the stoops of which no small portion of the tenants were already seated.--Cooper, Satanstoe, Vol. I. p. 69.
Nearly all the houses [in Albany] were built with their gables to the streets, and each had heavy wooden Dutch stoops, with seats at the door.--Ibid. p. 161.
There was a large two story house, having a long stoop in front.--Margaret, p. 63.
I shall step back to my party within the stoop.--Backwoods of Canada.
The stoup is up, and I have just planted hops at the base of the pillars.--Ibid. p. 309.