v. Obs. Forms: 4 stiȝ-, styȝtle, -tel, (stighle, stigle, stichle), 4–5 stiȝtil(l, stightill, -tel, stigh-, styghtle, styghtylle, (stighill, stihle, stihȝle, stiȝle, stithle, stithil). See also STICKLE v. [ME. stiȝtle, frequentative f. stiȝte STIGHT v.]
1. trans. To dispose, arrange, set in order; to prepare, make ready; to control, rule, govern; to direct (a helm or rudder); to ordain, assign, appoint; to set or establish (in a place or position).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 19425 (Edin.). Steuin stichlid him al bune, and þan bigan a grete sarmun. Ibid., 22093. Riȝt sua [sa]le þe fend him þisse Chesin stede of birþe I wisse Þate beste es stiglid [Gött. stighlid, Cott. titeld] til his stalle.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1199. Þat oþer was his stiward þat stiȝtled al his meyne.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., C. 402. If we … stylle steppen in þe styȝe he [God] styȝtlez hym seluen.
a. 1400. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xxix. iv. 20. Alle þe Iewes bi hemselue Were stihlet to wone in a strete.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 589. Lat him as ayre … enherit my landis, And stall we him in stede of þis to stiȝtill my rewme.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13282. Nowthir stightill þai stere, ne no stithe ropes.
absol. 1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XVI. 40. Reson stod and stihlede as for stywarde of halle.
b. With hostile notion: To ‘dispose of,’ put down (an antagonist).
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2899. Þe stoutest & þe sternest he stiȝtled sone after, Þat he garte þe grettest to hire prison louȝte.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2193. All þe Renkes of my rewme will þi red folowe, As storest of strenght to stightill thy foose.
2. intr. To bestir or exert oneself, put forth one’s strength or energy; to strive, contend, fight.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3281. Moche folk him folwed þat ferli to bi-hold, how sternli he & þe [stede] schold stiȝtli to-gadere.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 104. Þer-fore of face so fere, He stiȝtlez stif in stalle.
c. 1450. Merlin, xx. 333. And so haue thei medled and styghtled till they haue founde the kynge Boors vpon foote.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 460. Schipmen our the streme thai stithil full straught.
3. ? To intervene as mediator or umpire.
c. 1440. York Myst., XXXI. 75. Rex. What! and schall I rise nowe, in þe deuyllis name? To stighill amang straungeres in stales of a state.
Hence † Stightling vbl. sb.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1997. Was no stightlyng with stere, ne no stithe ropes.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxii. 408. Gawein … made soche stightlynge a-monge hem that alle dide resorte bakke wheder thei wolde or noon.
