The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Steepness \Steep"ness\, n. 1. Quality or state of being steep; precipitous declivity; as, the steepnessof a hill or a roof. [1913 Webster] 2. Height; loftiness. [Obs.] --Chapman. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
steepness n 1: the property possessed by a slope that is very steep [syn: abruptness, precipitousness, steepness] [ant: gentleness, gradualness]