subs. (old).—An obstinate or trifling contender; a zealot; a PRECISIAN (q.v.): also STIFFLER. [Orig. an umpire].
d. 1575. PARKER [DAVIES], Works, 252. The drift was, as I judged, for Dethick to continue such STIFFLERS in the College of his pupils, to win him in time by hook or crook the master’s room.
1813. AUBREY, Lives, ‘William Aubrey.’ He was one of the delegates … for the Tryall of Mary, Queen of Scots, and was a great STICKLER for the saving of her life.
1885. The Field, 4 April. The Englishman—in his own country greatest of all STICKLERS for the correct thing in raiment.
1899. KERNAHAN, Scoundrels & Co., xv. I’m a bit of a STICKLER for what’s gentlemanly myself.
