[PW] etapes

[Wendy Miller]

I'm not sure this is what you're looking for, but  I am familiar with a French language word of this spelling, etape, with an accent aigu over the first e.  It means a stopping place, or a staging point.  It can also mean a stage of life.  Has the word just moved into English usage without its accent mark?  I don't have a French-English dictionary at home but did find these meanings at the Collins online F-E dictionary --
http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/etape

Wendy Miller

... The term etapes, which, as I understand it, having first encountered it in
crossword puzzles, is the definition for a days march, and later, in a short
story entitled "Dawn at Etapes" depicting a duel fought over a chess match
as an etape. An etape is also, I believe, a series of graneries, and supply
depots, established by Napolean, that were  built and maintained to coincide
at each etape so that men and horses could re-arm, and re-supply. One of
R.F. Delderfeld's novels (sorry, I don't recall the title, tells the story
of three Gascon friends who fought for Napoleon - Would much appreciate
any information anyone can add to further expand the definition. Thanks

Jim