Definition of "stepmeal"

He who would see it with his mind's eye must begin by very little, and then by little and little climb nigher and nigher, and stepmeal, as if he were climbing on a ladder, and would be up on some sea'cliff; […]

1852, Alfred (King of England), The whole works of King Alfred the Great

One does not need to underline how, stepmeal, all this imitates Communist practice. This would be damaging enough. But the new rightist government has gone much further. It has laid strict control on the Greek Orthodox Church.

1967, Balkania