stair-case

stair-case (plural stair-cases)

1. Archaic form of staircase.
   • 1742, [Daniel Defoe], “Letter III. Containing a Description of Part of Middlesex; and of the Whole County of Hertford.”, in A Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain. […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 160:

     As this Place [Kensington Palace] opens to the Weſt, there are Two great Wings build, for receiving ſuch as neceſſarily attend the Court, and a large Port-cocher at the Entrance, with a Poſtern, and a Stone Gallery, on the South-ſide of the Court, which leads to the great Stair-caſe.

   • 1814 July, [Jane Austen], chapter IX, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, pages 184–185:

     The lower part of the house had been now entirely shewn, and Mrs. Rushworth, never weary in the cause, would have proceeded towards the principal stair-case, and taken them through all the rooms above, if her son had not interposed with a doubt of there being time enough.

   • 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], chapter I, in Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC, page 19:

     This little quay communicated with a rude stair-case, already repeatedly mentioned, which descended from the old castle.