to step off

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Step \Step\, v. t.
   1. To set, as the foot.
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   2. (Naut.) To fix the foot of (a mast) in its step; to erect.
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   {To step off}, to measure by steps, or paces; hence, to
      divide, as a space, or to form a series of marks, by
      successive measurements, as with dividers.
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