Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 1 sticol, 5 stikill, -ell, 6 stykell, stikle, 7 superl. stickellest, 6– stickle. [OE. sticol lofty, steep, rough, difficult (of a road) = OS. stecul (Gallée), MLG. stekel, OHG. stechal, abrupt, steep, sharp, rough, f. Teut. root *stik- (*stek-): see STICK v.1]
1. Of a hill or incline: Steep, high-pitched. s.w. dial.
c. 960. Rule St. Benet (Schröer), Prol. 5. Se [weʓ] is neara and sticol, þe to life and to heofona rice læt.
c. 1475. Partenay, 5848. Thys mont … narew and stikell to sight.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 177 b. That grounde boweth beste: that is easely stykell [qui leniter molliterque adsurgit].
1623. R. Carpenter, Conscionable Chr., 23. Admonishing vs to auoyd … the thorny copse of couetousnesse, and the stickle path of pride.
1796. W. H. Marshall, W. Eng., I. 330. Stickle, steep, as a road; or rapid, as a stream.
1894. W. Raymond, Love & Quiet Life, iii. 28. The cottage with the stickle roof.
† 2. Of a storm: ? Sharp, severe. Obs.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 4186. And stint was all þe stikill stormes in a stand-quile.
3. Of running water: Rapid. s.w. dial.
1586. J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., 37/1, in Holinshed. They found the same to be so deepe and stikle, that they could not passe ouer the same.
1614. Gorges, Lucan, I. 23. Through Stickle Rhene the boates to steare.
1796. [see 1].
1894. Blackmore, Perlycross, xliv. 461. A mile of water … bright with stickle runs.
4. Of the hair of an animal: Rough, bristly. Hence stickle-haired adj. Now dial. (Yorks.).
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., I. 76. Their dogs … that serue for that purpose [hunting] are stickle haired, and not vnlike to the Irish grayhounds.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 42. Horses which … have their Coats staring and stickle, (as the Term is).
1868. J. C. Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., 496. Stickle-haired, with the hair rough and bristling; of the coat of a neglected horse or colt.
Hence † Stickleness. Obs.
1586. J. Hooker, Hist. Irel., 37/1, in Holinshed. The stiklenesse and danger of the water.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, II. 120 b. A path … in many places, through his sticklenesse occasioning, and through his steepnesse threatning, the ruine of your life, with the failing of your foote.
