v. Obs. Forms: 6 starcle, starkel, 7 starckle, 6–7 starkle. [app. a variant of STARTLE v.] intr. To make a stir; to use threatening gestures; to show signs of fear, quake, be afraid.
1527. Caxton’s Trevisa, II. xii. 69 b. That bole hete Apis that was wonte to come out of ye Riuer Nylus & warne by his pleyng and starclynge [L. gesticulatione sua; Trevisa and Caxton startelynge] what was to comynge.
1544. H. Stalbrydges, Epistle, 25. Yowe sturdye strouggelers wyll somwhat starkle at thys my homelye wrytynge, yet shall not that make me leaue of.
1550. Bale, Eng. Votaries, II. 93 b. Than stirt up Becket, and starkeled lyke a lyon, sekynge … to brynge the kynge vndre. Ibid. (1550), Image Both Ch., Pref. (1560), B b. The boystouse tyrauntes of Sodoma … wyll sturte about them…. Oure worldlye wyse brethren also, which are neither hote nor colde, wyl starcle a course at the matter.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxxi. 7. 265 b/2. Although men starkled at him as at a monster [quamvis instar prodigii execrati sint eum homines].
1600. Holland, Livy, II. xli. 71. This act of his made diuerse of the senatours … to starkle for feare of hazarding their estate. Ibid. (1609), Amm. Marcell., XIV. ii. 6. Intelligences thereof continually given one after another had made Gallus Cæsar to starckle.
a. 1624. M. Smith, Serm. (1632), 72. If those condemne you for altering of your course, I cannot blame you to starkle.
