[f. STICKLE v.]
† 1. Persistent activity or endeavor (in a cause).
1675. V. Alsop, Anti-Sozzo, III. ii. 173. Thus the poor Gentiles, after all his zealous stickle in their Cause, are loft in the lurch to shift for themselves as well as they can.
† 2. Contention, strife. Obs.
1682. N. O., Boileau’s Lutrin, I. 77. Have I by secreet Arts, nourisht the Stickle Between the Church-men, and the Conventicle?
3. An agitated or bewildered state of mind; consternation or alarm; hurry or flurry. dial.
1744. Mrs. Robinson, in Mrs. Climenson, Eliz. Montagu (1906), I. 176. I was very composed, never thinking there would be any occasion to put myself in a stickle.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Stickle, a hurry, a bustle.
1853. G. J. Cayley, Las Alforjas, I. 218. The old Moorish merchant, who was in a tremendous stickle to get his wheat to the market at Tangier.
1877. Holderness Gloss., Stickle, fuss; perplexity; embarrassment; bewilderment; excitement.
