Definition of the word stoop

The word "stoop" as used to refer to a small front porch in architecture, derives from the Old English word "stāpan," which meant a ladder or steps leading up to a house. In Middle English, the word evolved to "stape" and referred to a stair, ramp, or flight of steps leading to a door or room. By the 15th century, the word "stope" or "stoop" emerged, and it referred to a ladder, stair, or stepladder. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved, and in the 19th century, it came to be associated with a small porch or landing at the entry of a house. Today, the term "stoop" is commonly used in American English to describe a small porch or entryway, usually found in older homes and buildings.