sb. [f. FIDDLE sb. + STICK sb.]
1. The bow strung with horsehair with which the fiddle is played. The devil rides on a fiddle-stick: = here ’s a fine commotion.
14[?]. Nom. MS. Reg., 17, in Wr.-Wülcker, 693. Hic arculus, fydylstyk.
1596. Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. iv. 535. The Deuill rides vpon a Fiddle-sticke.
1653. Walton, Angler, 106. I lent you indeed my Fiddle, but not my Fiddlestick.
1773. Johnson, in Boswell, 15 April. Give him a fiddle and a fiddle-stick, and he can do nothing.
1842. Abdy, Water Cure (1843), 210. I might as well inquire whether the fiddle or the fiddle-stick makes the tune.
2. humorously. Something insignificant or absurd, a mere nothing. Often substituted for another word in derisively repeating a remark. Also, fiddlestick’s end. Not to care a fiddlestick: to care not at all.
1621. Fletcher, Pilgrim, III. iv. Shot with a Fiddle-stick; who’s here to shoot ye?
1701. Farquhar, Sir H. Wildair, IV. ii. Golden Pleasures! Golden Fiddlesticks!
1796. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue (ed. 3), Fiddlestick’s End, Nothing.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmagundi (1824), 140. We do not care a fiddle-stick, as authors, for either public opinion or private ill-will.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., viii. ‘We purify the boys’ bloods now and then.’ ‘Purify fiddlesticks’ ends,’ said his lady.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, x. She … proposed to die of a broken heart … A broken fiddlestick!
1877. Black, Green Past., xxvii. (1878), 214. ‘Beware the awful isobar!’ we said to her. ‘Beware the awful fiddlesticks!’ she flippantly answered.
3. Hence as int. An exclamation equivalent to Nonsense! fiddle-de-dee! Often in pl. Also, fiddlestick’s end!
1600. Nashe, Summer’s Last Will, Wks. (Grosart), VI. 130. A fiddlesticke! ne’re tell me I am full of words.
1842. Thackeray, Miss Tickletoby’s Lect., vii. Do you suppose men so easily change their natures? Fiddlestick!
1854. H. Ainsworth, Flitch of Bacon, ii. 17. ‘And she refused you.’ ‘Fortunately she did, my dear.’ ‘Fiddlestick’s end! I dare say you preferred her.’
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, ix. (1871), 186. Fiddlesticks! it’s nothing but the skin broken.
1883. Stevenson, Treasure Isl., I. ii. (1886), 16. ‘Wounded? A fiddle-stick’s end!’ said the doctor.
1887. Jessopp, Arcady, vii. 219. Once a labourer always a labourer? Fiddlesticks!
