[f. STICK v.1]
1. A temporary stoppage, a hitch in proceedings or progress; a boggle. Obs. exc. arch.
1646. R. Baillie, Anabaptism (1647), 139. But the greatest stick is upon the antecedent, Baptismes succession to Circumcision.
1675. V. Alsop, Anti-Sozzo, iii. 161. But all the stick lyes there, and we must enter a Friendly Debate with him upon the issue.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (ed. 6, 1693), 104. When we came at the Hill Difficulty, he made no stick at that, nor did he much fear the Lyons.
1889. Stevenson, Master of Ballantrae, viii. It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date. Ibid. (1893), Catriona, iv. The Advocate appeared for a moment at a stick, sitting with pursed lips.
2. Something that causes hindrance or delay, a difficulty, obstacle to progress. Obs. exc. arch.
1657. Cromwell, Sp., 21 April, in Carlyle (1871), V. 31. I think you may well remember what the issue was of the last Conference … and what the stick then was.
1658–9. Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 116. To consider in what way you will address to his Highness, to acquaint him clearly what has been your stick.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, ii. It would be ill for me to find a conveyance, but that should be no stick to you.
3. The power of adhering or of causing a thing to adhere; adhesiveness. lit. and fig.
1853. Lowell, Fireside Trav. (1864), 113. Surveyors’ names have no natural stick in them. They remind one of the epithets of poetasters, which peel off like a badly-gummed postage-stamp.
1892. Kipling, Barrack-room Ballads, Screw-guns, 10. We’d climb up the side of a sign-board an’ trust to the stick o’ the paint.
b. Something that causes adhesion, a sticky substance.
1898. Engineering Mag., XVI. 128/1. The liquor … is reduced to the consistency of thick syrup and is called ‘stick.’
4. Cricket. A batsman who remains a long time at the wicket, one not easily ‘got out.’
1863. Lillywhite’s Cricket Scores, III. 242. Mr. Haygarth (always a great ‘stick’) in his first innings was in three hours.
1901. R. H. Lyttelton, Outdoor Games, vi. 121. One of the curses of the present day is the stick who, by restraining every impulse to hit, cannot be got out on these perfect modern wickets. Ibid., 126. Therefore the brilliant hitter had to abandon his naturally-attractive game and become a stick.
5. A stab. (Cf. STICK-FREE a.)
1633. Shirley, Young Admiral, IV. G 2. No circumstance must be forgot, To make him free from sticke and shot.
1818. in Todd; and in later Dicts.
