The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Steeple \Stee"ple\ (st[=e]"p'l), n. [OE. stepel, AS. st[=e]pel,
   st[=y]pel; akin to E. steep, a.] (Arch.)
   A spire; also, the tower and spire taken together; the whole
   of a structure if the roof is of spire form. See Spire. "A
   weathercock on a steeple." --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

   Rood steeple. See Rood tower, under Rood.

   Steeple bush (Bot.), a low shrub (Spiraea tomentosa)
      having dense panicles of minute rose-colored flowers;
      hardhack.

   Steeple chase, a race across country between a number of
      horsemen, to see which can first reach some distant
      object, as a church steeple; hence, a race over a
      prescribed course obstructed by such obstacles as one
      meets in riding across country, as hedges, walls, etc.

   Steeple chaser, one who rides in a steeple chase; also, a
      horse trained to run in a steeple chase.

   Steeple engine, a vertical back-acting steam engine having
      the cylinder beneath the crosshead.

   Steeple house, a church. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor.
      [1913 Webster]