Why are stairs called 'stairs' when inside, but when their outside they're called "steps"?

Answer 1

If you search it on google, you will find many people who have asked the same question. Nobody Knows!

Answer 2

It dates decrease back to the English translation of Vasquez's discovery of an Aztec temple (Mt.Titikaka). Locals believed that ascending the stairs introduced you closer to heaven. They have been infuriated to make certain that Latinate derivatives (Spanish and English) used stairs and steps synonymously. King Ferdinand pacified the locals' via inventing the be conscious ESTEPPE (step) on a similar time as secretly undermining their civilization with systematic raping and pillaging.

Answer 3

Steps, whether inside or outside, have a tread and / or a riser and are what you use to go up or down levels. A staircase is where the steps are encased. Stairs is a bastardization of staircase.

Answer 4

Because of the difference in meaning.

'STAIRS' mean a SET of Steps built between TWO FLOORS iINSIDE a Building..

Up the stairs, down the stairs, below or top of the stairs, bottom of the stairs, two/three flights of stairs etc etc. are in use.

Whereas, Steps (One of a series) also refers to the STAIRS that help you to walk to a higher or lower level.

A short flight of STEPS led her to the door.

Answer 5

stair means the whole staircase.. the railings and the blocks you step up on.
steps.. are those blocks that i just mentioned earlier.

as for the floor and deck...
think about it... floor always means ground.. and the top of a ship is a deck... because its what covers the ship on the surface.. omg.. im finding this hard to put in words.
just like with buildings.. u dont say the top floor.. but the top deck..

Answer 6

I think you take a step onto the stairs and you take a step forward but you dont take a step onto some steps if that makes sense. All old english

Answer 7

Stairs, staircase, stairway, and flight of stairs are all names for a construction designed to bridge a large vertical distance by dividing it into smaller vertical distances, called steps. Stairways may be straight, round, or may consist of two or more straight pieces connected at angles.

Answer 8

A staircase (Stairs is an abrievation) is a series of steps joined together and encased in one structure with walls either side.

Steps (As they are referred) have 1 or less walls.

Answer 9

I never call them steps outside or in .. good point though , they have always remained stairs to me .

Answer 10

Probably the same reason some folks insist on referring to 'the ground' i.e outside as 'the floor' which is inside usually - unless you happen to live in a canyon!

Answer 11

They are all steps. They are all staircases. I have no idea where you get that it makes a difference if they are inside or out. I can go upstairs from the outside as well.