stope

An excavation in the form of steps made by the mining of ore from steeply inclined or vertical veins.

To remove (ore) from or mine by means of a stope.

An excavation made in a mine to remove the ore which has been rendered accessible by the shafts and drifts.

An obsolete form of stoop.

In mining, to remove the contents of a vein.

Middle English forms of stapen, past participle of step.

A horizontal working forming one of a series, the working faces of which present the appearance of a flight of steps.

Stepped; gone; advanced.

To excavate in the form of stopes.

To fill in with rubbish, as a space from which the ore has been worked out.