Origin and history of steal

Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan "commit a theft, take and carry off clandestinely and without right or leave" (class IV strong verb; past tense stæl, past participle stolen), from Proto-Germanic *stelanan (source also of Old Norse stela, Old Saxon stelan, Old Frisian stela "to steal, rob one of," Dutch stelen, Old High German stelan, German stehlen, Gothic stilan "to steal"), which is perhaps from a PIE *stel-, variant of *ster- "rob, steal," but Boutkan finds for it no good IE etymology.

The intransitive meaning "depart or withdraw stealthily and secretly" is from late Old English. "The notion of secrecy ... seems to be part of the original meaning of the vb." [OED]. According to Buck, most IE words for steal have roots in notions of "hide," "carry off," or "collect, heap up."

Attested as a verb of stealthy motion from c. 1300 (as in steal away, late 14c.). Of kisses from late 14c.; of time from 1520s; of glances, sighs, etc., from 1580s. In reference to plagiarism by 1540s. The various sports senses begin 1836 (cricket). To steal the show in entertainment slang (by 1925) is to outshine the rest of the cast.

1825, "act or case of theft," from steal (v.). It is attested in American English by 1872 as "dishonesty or fraud on a large scale." The meaning "a bargain" is attested by 1942, American English colloquial. Baseball sense of "a furtive run from one base to the next" is by 1867.