Home › Words › S › stepquotestepquotestepquote means A message in the grid of a crossword, split between multiple lights and arranged in a zigzag or steplike pattern.Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, stepquote ranks #719 of 42,747 for Qualifying.EtymologyFrom step + quote. Coined by Eugene Maleska.nounA message in the grid of a crossword, split between multiple lights and arranged in a zigzag or steplike pattern.e.g.“No Stepquote seems to make sense. The open diagonal, 63 to 11, gives 'KLEURTIWIAAOUOA,' which doesn't have the feel of a message at first glance, even reading in the other direction.” — 1986, Herbert Resnicow, The Crossword Code, →ISBN:A crossword puzzle including such a message.e.g.“Later Joseph Cotten and I became pen pals because he liked my Stepquotes, and Frank Sinatra's secretary proudly informed me that her boss does the Times puzzles in ink.” — 1984, Eugene T. Maleska, Across and Down: The Crossword Puzzle World, Touchstone:Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).