step country (stepkun"tri)

A country that rears or receives and protects one born in another country. The speaker in the following quotation is an Italian brought up in Sweden: Farewell, my father-farewell, my step - country. Disraeli , Contarini Fleming, ii. 4. step-cover (step'kuver), n. On a vehicle, a lid or protecting cover over a step. It is usually so fitted that the opening of the door moves the cover to one side and uncovers the step, or causes it, by a hinge or other device, to turn back out of the way. step-cut (step'kut), n. Same as trap - cut (which see, under cut). stepdame (step'dam), n . [Formerly also step dam ; step- + dame .] A stepmother. Phryxus. with his sister Helle fled from their cruell stepdam Ino. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 34L step-dance (step'dans), n. A dance marked by originality, variety, or difficulty in the steps; a dance in which the steps are more important than the figure, as a hornpipe or a clog-dance: usually a pas seul. Orth'ris began rowlin' his eyes an' crack in' his fingers an' dancin' a step-dance for to impre the Headman. Rudyard Kipling , The Taking of Lung tung pen. stepdaughter (step'dâter), n. [ doughter , stepdoghter , stepdouzter, step dorter , steópdohtor (= D. stiefdochter = MLG. stefdochter = MHG. stiuftochter , G. stieftochter = Icel. stjúpdóttir = Sw. styfdotter = Dan. stif datter ), steóp- , step-, + dohtor , daughter: see step- and daughter .] A daughter of one's husband or wife by a former marriage. After hir com the stepdoughter of Cleodalis, that hight also Gonnore. Merlin (E. E. T. 8.), iii. 453