sticklern.1
/ˈstɪklə/, U.S. /ˈstɪk(ə)lər/ 1. † b. figurative. A thing which serves as, or is likened to, a moderator in a dispute or contest; something which intervenes between two people or things. Obsolete.† c. A queller of strife, tumult, etc. Cf. stickle v. 1b. Obsolete.
a. A moderator or umpire at a wrestling match or other contest, appointed to ensure fair play, and to part the combatants when they have fought enough. Hence more generally: a person who intercedes between combatants or disputants; a mediator. Often with between. Now only with reference to Cornish wrestling.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > judging or umpiring > [noun] > umpire or referee
discovererc1450
judge1538
stickler1538
trier1607
umpire1714
referee1822
ref1890
ump1915
president1961
zebra1972
society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > [noun] > parting of combatants > one who parts combatants
partera1425
redder1453
stickler1538
ridder1542
society > society and the community > dissent > absence of dissension or peace > bringing about concord or peace > [noun] > settling quarrels or disputes > mediation > mediator
mediatorc1410
recounsellera1425
mid-man1459
stiffler1473
stickler1538
goer1548
ombudsman1970
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Interpres,..also a styckler betwene two, whiche are at varyaunce.
1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Niijv Hereby it appeared that Jesus was the stickler or mediator.
1572 J. Higgins Huloets Dict. (rev. ed.) Stickeler in games, Designator, Arbiter certaminis.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) i. xvii. sig. L2v Basilius rising himselfe [came] to parte them, the sticklers authoritie scarslie able to perswade cholerike hearers.
1602 R. Parsons Warn-word i. f. 14 Receauing for his gaine the first broken head as wrangling sticlers ar wont to do.
1618 S. Daniel Coll. Hist. Eng. 99 Theobald Earle of Bloys, that famous Stickler betweene the Kings of England and France.
a1656 J. Ussher Ann. World (1658) 722 He sent Octavia..to her brother Cæsar, that she might be a stickler between them.
1659 J. Dryden Heroique Stanza's xi, in E. Waller et al. Three Poems 4 Our former Cheifs like sticklers of the Warre First sought t'inflame the Parties, then to poise.
1704 Rehearsal 21 Oct. in C. Leslie View of Times (1708) I While thou hast taken upon thee the post of being a stickler between churches, and a regulator of all..thou shou'd'st satisfy the world what religion thou thy self art of.
1770 R. Griffith & E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances V. dcxxxiii. 169 You would probably have been the Death of her, long ago, if I had not luckily stept in a Stickler between ye.
1793 J. Ritson Note on Troilus & Cressida v. ix, in Plays of Shakspeare XI. 446 At every wrestling in Cornwall, before the games begin, a certain number of sticklers are chosen, who regulate the proceedings and determine every dispute.
1825 J. Jennings Observ. Dial. W. Eng. 72 Stickler, a person who presides at backsword or singlestick, to regulate the game.
1897 E. Phillpotts Lying Prophets i. v. 50 You 'm like the stickler at a wras'lin' match,..you sees fair play betwixt God an' man.
1899 A. Quiller-Couch Ship of Stars xv. 150 Often after work the pair would try a hitch together on the triangle of turf, with Taffy for stickler.
1931 Manch. Guardian 15 Jan. 16 A stickler is one who acts as an umpire in Cornish wrestling matches.
2016 Rule Bk. in www.cornishwrestling.co.uk (O.E.D. Archive) 6.4 Any Stickler who is also a Wrestler cannot stickle in any bout in any classification that he is himself registered to wrestle in.
ΚΠ
1558 W. Kethe in C. Goodman How Superior Powers To Rdr. sig. p.vi The thinge to decide so with Iudgement and skill, That trueth may be stickler, and not our one will.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. T. More in tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis 100 Thy nose, as a stickler, toe toe long vs parteth a sunder.
1598 J. Norden Speculum Brit.: Hartfordshire ii. 6 The Lea..continuing her most milde course as stickler betweene Essex and Middlesex.
1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. iii. x. 300 The tide withdrawing vpon course, during the skirmish, the Ocean might as it were seeme to haue beene stickler in the battell.
1667 R. Peers Four Small Copies Verses To Rdr. sig. A2v We..are infinitely pleas'd with the scuffle of two jarring elements; while in the mean time the expression proves an unfortunate stickler between two irreconcilable enemies, and seldom comes off better then maim'd or wounded.
1851 J. P. Collier in T. Heywood Golden & Silver Ages 179 In the instance before us, Hercules was about to use his club as a stickler between Theseus and Cerberus.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > [noun] > peacemaker
peacemaker?a1425
make-peacea1513
pacifier1533
compounder1539
pacificator1539
truce-maker1552
ground-layer1603
stickler1615
peace-wright1718
peacemonger1808
honest broker1878
1615 Bp. J. Hall No Peace with Rome iii, in Recoll. Treat. 843 Those honest and good-natur'd men, which would needes vndertake to be the sticklers of these stripes.
1693 H. Newcome Plain Disc. Rash & Sinful Anger 37 Faith is a mighty stickler of Tumults in the Soul.
a. In a neutral sense: a person who takes an active or busy part (in a cause, affair, etc.); an agent, mover, or instigator. Obsolete.
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the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [noun] > one who engages in an activity or occupation
stightlerc1425
stickler1565
engager1865
1565 J. Calfhill Aunswere Treat. Crosse Epist. to Martiall sig. Bjv Erasmus a gret stickler in the crosse quarrell.
1619 J. Denison Heauenly Banquet 64 Andradius a principall stickler at the Councell of Trent, and a vehement defender thereof.
1643 Declar. Commons conc. Rebellion in Ireland 22 The Queen with her Romish Priests..have been principall Actours and Sticklers herein.
1665 S. Patrick Parable of Pilgrim v. 16 [He] is generally decry'd by all parties, as no friend to Truth, because he is no great stickler about the Questions that have vexed our unhappy daies.
1690 C. Ness Compl. Hist. & Myst. Old & New Test. I. 30 Oleaster, that grand stickler in the Spanish Inquisition.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Heracleonites They were so fond of these Mystic Interpretations, that Origen, tho' a Stickler that Way himself, was obliged to reproach Heracleon with his abusing Scripture by that Means.
1854 New Sporting Mag. Aug. 100 The Viscomte de Sassenay, who was witty as Rivarol, and as great a stickler in politics as Lauragnais.
b. In a negative sense: a person who stirs up strife or unrest; a meddler, a busybody. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > [noun] > cause of quarrel > one who causes quarrels
stickler1579
broil-maker1592
make-fray1598
broiler1657
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > acting in another's business or intervention > [noun] > being a busybody or officiousness > a busybody
busybody1526
busyhead1555
stiffler1566
Jack-stickler1579
pragmatical1593
polypragmon1596
polypragmonist1609
polypragmist1613
factotum1618
ardelio1624
polypragmatist1631
pragmatic1634
polypragmatic1636
pragmatist1640
stickler1702
gad1756
pantopragmatic1860
butterinsky1902
eager beaver1942
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 853/2 Howe many iacke sticklers [Fr. boutefeux] are there nowe adayes..which..will needes shewe them selues to be somwhat by mouing troubles?
1641 F. Quarles Enchyridion (new ed.) i. xlviii True Religion is a Setler in a State, rather than a Stickler.
1699 W. Penn Some Fruits of Solitude (ed. 5) §531. 151 A Devout Man is one thing, a Stickler is quite another.
1702 R. L'Estrange tr. Josephus Wars of Jews ii. iii, in Wks. 811 And for Those Sticklers that Varus found to be least Malicious, he order'd them to be kept in Custody.
3. † a. A person who strives or argues vigorously for a cause, principle, person, party, etc. Obsolete.
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the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > support or encouragement > [noun] > supporter or encourager > and stoutly defends
champion138.
propugnatorc1429
propugner1593
stickler1607
white knight1628
hyperaspist1638
stiff-stander1642
sticker-up1832
storm troops1918
storm trooper1935
1607 R. Parker Scholasticall Disc. against Antichrist ii. vi. 69 As an old stickler for conformitie said once: there is a difference betweene the rites of Idolaters, which by and by must be throwne away, & the rites of the Iewes.
1644 D. Featley Sacra Nemesis 6 A great stickler for the new Reformation.
1654 R. Vilvain Theoremata Theologica ii. 49 Dr. Ward, a stif Stickler for effectual Grace.
1660 J. Dauncey Hist. Charles II 68 Nor wanted there some sticklers for his Majesty.
1715 No King-sellers 31 Tho' he be so sturdy a Stickler for Occasional Conformity to the Church of England..yet doth he elsewhere bestow the highest Eulogiums on sundry, who branded and stigmatiz'd it.
1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued I. i. 146 Your sticklers for indifferency of Will.
1789 A. Young Jrnl. 15 June in Trav. France (1792) i. 110 He is one of the most zealous sticklers for the popular cause.
1821 Ld. Byron Marino Faliero (2nd issue) iii. ii. 81 A stickler for the Senate and ‘the Forty’.
1829 S. H. Cassan Lives Bishops of Bath & Wells 162 He was a stickler for the Hanover succession.
1843 Railway Times 25 Feb. 240/1 The greatest sticklers for reform when out of place, are the most violent and most pertinacious advocates of official abuses when power and patronage have been secured to themselves.
b. Chiefly with for. A person who insists that something should follow a prescribed form or be done in a prescribed way; one who insists on something established by rule or custom.In early use probably still with the implication of vigorous advocacy, as in sense 3a. Now the usual sense.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > obstinacy or stubbornness > [noun] > inflexibility > inflexible person
rigida1646
rigidist1716
inexorable1748
stickler1799
tough1928
no man1930
toughie1960
hard-ass1962
jobsworth1970
1799 W. Taylor Let. to R. Southey 23 June in J. W. Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. v. 283 Libertines when they are about to settle, are mostly great sticklers for feminine purity, or prudery or religiosity.
a1803 C. L. Lewes Mem. III. 60 I remember..that great stickler for propriety, Mr. Garrick..came on the stage with a wig as large as any worn now.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xlv. 439 She was a great stickler for dignity and ceremonies.
1879 W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor I. xxiii. 241 Beaufort was no stickler for pedantic rules.
1914 Sewanee Rev. 22 348 The particularity which governed Ritson in the higher criticism made him a fussy stickler in the humble walks of life.
1957 ‘Miss Read’ Village Diary 84 ‘Madam President,’ she began, becoming suddenly a stickler for etiquette.
1979 R. Blythe View in Winter iii. 150 He was seventy-seven, a retired doctor, and what you might call a stickler. He is very outspoken and insists on being addressed in the correct form.
1999 BBC Good Food July 44/2 If you're a stickler about your cookery terms, vinaigrette traditionally contains mustard, French dressing is the same thing but made without mustard.
2015 Church Times 18 Sept. 31/3 He was a stickler for maintaining the rhythm between the verses of hymns.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > [noun] > opponent
adversaryc1350
contraryc1405
overthwarter?c1450
party1488
opposant1489
oppositec1500
encounterer1523
oppugner1535
header1537
opponent1553
antagonist1555
crosser1565
adverse1593
oppositor1598
oppugnator1611
stickler1612
opposera1616
antipos1631
thwarter1633
Antarctic1637
contrariant1657
foe1697
oppositionist1786
oppugnanta1834
counterworker1867
contester1884
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [noun] > making difficult > one who makes difficulties
stickler1718
1612 W. Jewel tr. Golden Cabinet True Treasure 48 The vile corruption of our depraued nature, of its own appetite more inclining vnto euill, then vnto good, is an obstinate stickler against vertue.
1613 T. Jackson Eternall Truth Script. i. xv. 78 Diomedes (who was one of the greatest sticklers against Troy).
1660 W. Winstanley England's Worthies 229 Sir Robert Cecil was a man of lame feet, but of a sound head; one who bare great sway in the Court, and a special stickler against the Earl.
1718 F. Hutchinson Hist. Ess. conc. Witchcraft iv. 63 Where they might do what they would, without being controlled by Sticklers.
1735 Bp. Gibson in A. C. Fraser Life Berkeley (1871) vii. 238 The men of science..are the greatest sticklers against revealed religion.
1823 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 16 Aug. 401 Sir Thomas Baring appears to have been the great stickler against Mr. Hollis.
1826 T. Creevey in H. Maxwell Creevey Papers (1903) II. 100 If a good ultra-Tory Government could be made, Canning and Huskisson must inevitably be ruined by this daring step. You never heard such language as the old sticklers apply to them.
1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Wks. II. 42/1 There are nowhere such stiff sticklers against idolatry, at the present day, as those gentlemen.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > that which or one who supports > one who > in a contest
stickler1672
1672 G. Thomson Let. to H. Stubbe 28 Stubbe, and the rest of the Galenical Tribe, with all their Sticklers.
1678 in A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 418 One of the principall parishioners and sticklers to the byshop against Oats.
1705 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft 14 Priests of all Religions..are the Sticklers, and clap their Hands, and cry Hulloo; setting the mad and Priest-ridden Laiety at work, to fight up to the Ears in Blood for them.
1711 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 177 Their fathers were honest men, and sticklers to their lawful Prince.
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Stickler, a sidesman to fencers; a second to a duellist.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth vi, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 154 My ambition of distinction in arms, and my love of strife..do not fight even-handed with my reason..but have their patrons and sticklers to egg them on.
1835 J. Rocchietti Lorenzo & Oonalaska 124 I heard great many reproaching the behaviour of Hugo: he could not find here a single person willing to be his stickler.
Derivatives
ˈstickler-like adv. and adj. †(a) adv. in a manner reminiscent of a moderator or umpire (obsolete); (b) adj. resembling or characteristic of a stickler (sense 3).
ΚΠ
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida v. ix. 18 The dragon wing of night orespreds the earth, And stickler-like the armies separates. View more context for this quotation
1999 A. Lycett Rudyard Kipling xiii. 344 The owner, a stickler-like stockbroker called Alexander Scrimgeour.
2008 R. Mudd Place To Be 249 Walter Cronkite, our anchor, whose sticklerlike devotion to unadorned hard news kept us in his thrall.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
sticklern.2
A misreading of stikker (see quot. 1422 at sticker n.1 1).
ΚΠ
1701 W. Kennett Cowell's Interpreter (new ed.) Stickler, a small Officer who cut Wood for the Priory of Ederose within the King's Parks of Clarendon, Rot. Parl. I Hen. 6. [Also in later dictionaries.]
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
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