An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Stufe

by Friedrich Kluge

Stufe, f., ‘step, degree, grade,’ from the equiv. MidHG. stuofe, OHG. stuofa, f., both of which are rare (comp. Du. stoep, ‘threshold’). A graded form from the root stap, ‘to go’ (AS. stôpol, ‘footprint’), which appears in ModHG. Staffel and E. to step. Comp. also Tritt in the sense of Stufe.