Obs. Forms: 5 stic, styc, 5–6 stik, (5 styke), 6–7 stick, (6 styck), 7 sticke; Sc. 5–7 steik, 5 stek, (steke, 6 steyk, styk). [a. Flem. stik, stuk, = Du. stuk, G. stück piece.]
1. The customary length (varying according to the material) of a ‘piece’ or roll of certain textile fabrics imported from Flanders.
1476. in Acta Audit. (1839), 55/2. Twa stikkis of blak schamlot.
1489. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 136. Item,… for a steik of black chamlot to be a galbert to the King, price vj li.
1493. in Acta Audit. (1839), 180/2. A stik of grene sating contenand xxvj elln.
1513. Inventory, in Archæologia, LXVI. 346. A Counterpoint of Verdure cont. xxx. flemisshe stickes.
1565–[66]. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 430. Ane half stik of say, four half stekis of lynning Holand clayth.
1614. in Archæologia, XLII. 359. Fowre shorte carpettes of verdure … at ij s. vj d. the sticke.
1670. in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 15. Courser [hangings] then theise … Your Honour may be served with from Flanders, att 18s. per stick.
1694. E. Chamberlayne, Pres. St. Eng., III. ii. (ed. 18), 388. A Dutch Ell or Stick, by which Tapestry is measured, is but 3/4 of a Yard.
† 2. Le styc, the stic = the piece. (Cf. PIECE sb. 4.)
1482. Cely Papers (Camden), 111. They wull hawe noo noder money than nenyng grotes at iiij d. ob le styc. Ibid., 114. He … made vj oblygaschons payabull at vj montbys and vj monthis the stic conteynyng vc marke.
3. See quot. (Cf. STEAK 2 a.)
1615. E. S., Brit. Buss, in Arber, Garner, III. 636. This Yager … comes to the said Buss … and buys all such herrings as she hath barrelled. Which barrels, upon the first packing, are called Sticks. And, in part of payment for her said Herring Sticks, delivers … salt [etc.].
