subs. (old).—1. In pl. furniture; MARBLES (q.v.): also STICKS AND STONES (GROSE, VAUX, BEE).
1883. G. R. SIMS, How the Poor Live, iii. To tide over till then is a work of some difficulty, but the ‘STICKS’ and the ‘wardrobe’ of the family have paid the rent up to now.
1883. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag, & Co., ‘In Quiggles’s Kitchen.’ No one will permit him to occupy a room in a private house unless he has at least a few ‘STICKS’ by way of security for the payment of a week’s rent.
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, ii. What rent kin yer affawd … have yer got any STICKS?
2. (old cant).—In pl. = pistols; POPS (q.v.); ‘STOW YOUR STICKS’ = ‘hide your pistols’ (GROSE and VAUX).
3. (colloquial).—An awkward, dull, or stupid person: in contempt. Usually POOR STICK. A RUM (or ODD) STICK = an oddity.
1803. EDGEWORTH, Belinda, xx. “You … will go and marry, I know you will, some STICK of a rival.” … “I hope I shall never marry a STICK.”
1814. AUSTEN, Mansfield Park, xiii. I was surprised to see Sir Henry such a STICK; luckily the strength of the piece did not depend upon him.
1847. C. BRONTË, Jane Eyre, xvii. The poor old STICK used to cry out, ‘Oh you villains childs!’ and then we sermonized her on the presumption of attempting to teach such clever blades as we were, when she was herself so ignorant.
1855. New York Tribune, 4 Sept. About the poorest STICK for a legislator ever elected.
1886. Daily Telegraph, 13 July. A great actor may not exhibit himself as a STICK for half-an-hour together, and claim to redeem his fame by a few magnificent moments.
1899. KERNAHAN, Scoundrels & Co., xxi. The ‘STICK’ will find himself as readily cold-shouldered, and the assumer of ‘side’ may think himself lucky if he be allowed to depart unbaited.
1900. PERCY WHITE, The West End, 126. ‘Elsenham’s a STICK.’ ‘He is—rather,’ said my aunt. ‘But he is heir to one of the oldest earldoms in the kingdom.’
4. (thieves’).—A crowbar; a JEMMY (q.v.).
1887. J. W. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail. “What tools will you want!” “We shall want some twirls and the STICK.”
5. (silversmiths’).—(a) A candlestick; and (b) a candle.
6. (cricketers’).—In pl. = the stamps.
7. (common).—In pl. = the legs; STUMPS (q.v.).
8. (printers’).—A hard or otherwise badly printing ink-roller.
9. (athletic).—In pl. = hurdles. Hence STICK-HOPPER = a hurdle-racer.
10. (nautical).—A mast: e.g., ‘She has handsome STICKS’ = ‘She is finely sparred.’
11. (colloquial).—Hesitation; demur. Hence TO STICK AT = to BOGGLE (q.v.).
1678. BUNYAN, Pilgrim’s Progress, vi. When he came to the Hill Difficulty he made no STICK at that.
THE STICK, subs. phr. (venery).—A venereal disease: clap, shanker, or pox; LADIES’ FEVER (q.v.).
2. (colloquial).—To kill: spec. (India) to spear wild hogs.
PHRASES and COLLOQUIALISMS are numerous. Thus TO BE STUCK ON THE DEAL = to pay too much, to be swindled; TO STICK ON THE PRICE = to overcharge; TO STICK FOR DRINKS = to win the toss; TO STICK IT UP = to get credit; TO STICK UP (a bank, a train, a caravan) = to rob; TO BE STUCK ON ONE’S LINES (theatrical) = to forget; TO STICK UP TRICKS (POINTS, RUNS, GOALS, &c.) = to score; TO STICK UP = to take one’s own part, or another’s; TO STICK IN A PIN = to make a note of, to take heed; TO STICK TO = to stand by; TO STICK AT = to be scrupulous; TO STICK AT NOTHING = to be utterly without scruple; TO STICK IN ONE’S STOMACH (or GIZZARD) = to rankle; TO STICK TO = to back through thick and thin, to follow closely; TO STICK ONE’S SPOON IN THE WALL = to die; TO CUT ONE’S STICKS = to decamp; TO HAVE THE FIDDLE BUT NOT THE STICK = to have the means without sense to use them; TO GO TO STICKS AND STAVES (or NOGGIN STAVES) = to go to ruin; TO BEAT ALL TO STICKS = to vanquish utterly; TO STICK A POINT = to settle a matter; TO STICK IN (cricket) = to play carefully, so as to keep up the wicket; TO STICK ONESELF UP = to assert oneself, to SPREAD OUT (q.v.); TO STICK TO ONE’S FINGERS = to remain in possession unlawfully; TO STICK OUT FOR = to contend obstinately; TO STICK AND LIFT = to live from hand to mouth. Also STUCK ON ONE’S SHAPE = pleased with one’s appearance; STUCK IN THE MUD = CORNERED (q.v.); STUCK FOR THE READY = penniless; STUCK BY ONE’S PAL = deceived, deserted, DONE (q.v.); STUCK IN ONE’S FIGURES (FACTS, or CALCULATIONS) = mistaken, at a loss; DEAD STUCK = completely disappointed, flabbergasted, or ruined; STUCK ON A JUDE = enamoured; STUCK UP = conceited, proud. Also AS CROSS AS TWO STICKS = fully angered; STICK-AND-STONE = everything: cf. ROOT AND BRANCH, STOCK AND BLOCK; IN QUICK STICKS (or CHISEL) = instantly; WRONG END OF THE STICK = (1) the worst of a position; and (2) the false of a story. ‘Any STICK (or STAFF) suffices to beat the dog’ (RAY).
1337. ROBERT MANNYNG OF BRUNNE, Handlyng Synne (HEARNE), 113. [Castles] are won ilka STIK.
1448–60. Paston Letters, 462. EVERY STONE AND STICKS thereof.
1544. The Late Expedition in Scotland [ARBER, English Garner, i. 120]. We brake down the pier of the haven of Leith, and burnt every STICK of it.
1564. UDALL, The Apophthegmes of Erasmus, 215. So in fine were thei beaten doune, their citee taken, spoiled, and destroied, bothe STICKE AND STONE.
1569. The Marriage of Wit and Science, ii. 2 [DODSLEY, Old Plays (HAZLITT), ii. 342].
| I know a younker that will ease you … | |
| That will not STICK TO marry you within this hour. |
1594. SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry VI., iii. 1.
| The ancient proverb will be well effected: | |
| ‘A STAFF is quickly found to beat a dog.’ | |
| Ibid. (1598), 2 Henry IV., i. 2. | |
| And yet he will not STICK TO say his face is a face-royal. |
1611. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, ii. 1.
| And this it was she swore, never to marry, | |
| But such as one whose mighty arm could carry | |
| (As meaning me, for I am such a one) | |
| Her bodily away, through STICK AND STONE. |
1648–55. FULLER, The Church History of Britain, vi. 268. This quaternion of subscribers have STICK’N THE POINT dead with me that all antient English monks were Benedictines.
1669. PEPYS, Diary, 31 March, iv. 141. To serve him I should, I think, STICK AT NOTHING.
1743. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild, I. xiii. It was his constant maxim, that he was a pitiful fellow who would STICK AT a little rapping for his friend.
1796. BURNS, To William Simpson, Postscript. Folk thought them ruined STICK-AN-STOWE.
1824. S. E. FERRIER, The Inheritance, ix. She married a Highland drover or tacksman, I can’t tell which, and they went ALL TO STICKS and staves.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Lay of St. Aloys.’
| Lastly, as to the Pagan who play’d such a trick, | |
| First assuming the tonsure, then CUTTING HIS STICK. | |
| Ibid., ‘The Lay of St. Odille.’ | |
| Many ladies in Strasburg were beautiful, still | |
| They were BEAT ALL TO STICKS by the lovely Odille. |
1839. DE QUINCEY, The Casuistry of Roman Meals. All which remained for a decayed poet was respectfully to CUT HIS STICK, and retire.
1840. DICKENS, The Old Curiosity Shop, xl. And now that the nag has got his wind again … I’m afraid I must CUT MY STICK.
1841. Punch, I. 136. If we were speaking of an ordinary man, and not a monarch, we should have rendered by the familiar phrase of CUT HIS STICK.
1843. THACKERAY, Lyra Hibernica, ‘The Battle of Limerick.’
| But the best use Tommy made | |
| Of his famous battle blade | |
| Was to CUT HIS own STICK from the Shannon shore. |
1846. J. L. STOKES, Discoveries in Australia, II. xiii. 502. It was only the previous night that he had been ‘STUCK UP,’ with a pistol at his head.
1651–61. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, II. 18. The pawnbrokers have been so often STUCK with inferior instruments that it is difficult to pledge even a really good violin. Ibid., III. 142. Some of the young fellows STICK IN THEIR PARTS. They get the stage fever and knocking in the knees.
1841. F. JACKSON, A Week in Wall Street, 47. As soon as the whole class of small speculators perceived they had been ‘STUCK,’ aware of the injury the little credit they possessed would sustain, they all shut their mouths, except, that each one pitied his neighbor; and strange as it may seem, not a man could be found in Wall-street, who confessed the ownership of a share.
1855. W. HOWITT, Two Years in Victoria, ii. 187. Unless the mail came well armed and guarded, a very few men could ‘STICK IT UP,’ without any trouble or danger.
1855. C. KINGSLEY, Westward Ho! v. Silence, or my allegory will GO TO NOGGIN-STAVES. Ibid. (1857), Two Years Ago, i. In a few minutes Tom came in—“Here’s a good riddance!…” “What?” “CUT HIS STICK, and walked his chalks; and is off to London.”
1860–3. MOTLEY, History of the United Netherlands, II. 87. One third of the money sent by the Queen for the soldiers STUCK IN HIS FINGERS.
1872. BESANT and RICE, Ready Money Mortiboy, xiii. “You won’t pay her any more attentions, for you shall come out of this place IN QUICK STICKS,” said Mrs. Bowker.
1887. J. W. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail. Now don’t STICK ME UP; meet me at six to-night.
c. 1880. C. SHEARD, Music Hall Song, ‘I’m a Millionaire.’ Though some STICK IT UP, now I’ll pay money down.
1881. A. C. GRANT, Bush-Life in Queensland, i. 157. Why, they STUCK UP Wilson’s station there, and murdered the man and woman in the kitchen; they then planted inside the house, and waited until Wilson came home at night with his stockman.
1882. T. A. GUTHRIE (‘F. Anstey’), Vice Versâ, vii. ‘Why, you are STICKING UP FOR him now!’ said Tom … astonished at this apparent change of front.
1885. J. B. GRIBBLE, A Day with Australian Bushrangers, in The Leisure Hour, xxxiv. March, 192/1. Having attacked, or, in Australian phrase, ‘STUCK UP’ the station and made prisoners of all the inmates, they then took three vehicles, and leaving one of their number in charge, drove into Euroa.
1886. Graphic, 10 April, 399. An actor who forgets his words is said to STICK or be corpsed.
1887. G. L. APPERSON, in All the Year Round, 30 July, 68, 1. In times gone by, it was by no means an uncommon occurrence [in Australia] for a coach to be STUCK UP by a hand of bushrangers…. But a coach is now seldom interfered with, and to STICK UP is applied to less daring attempts to rob.
1888. BOLDREWOOD, The Squatter’s Dream, 47. Well, then, I’ll CUT MY STICK; you won’t want the pair of us. Ibid., 204. A note to settle our little account IN QUICK STICKS.
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, xxvii. Her tiny chum sometimes comes home at night, CROSS AS TWO STICKS, and resists every attempt to cheer her.
1899. HYNE, Further Adventures of Captain Kettle, vi. When it comes to STICKING UP the cable station you’ll see him do the work of any ten like us.
1903. Daily Telegraph, 11 Feb., 7, 1. I said, “Are you going to STICK me UP for this money?” He gave an indefinite sort of the shoulders, and returned no answer.
