Dictionary

stickler en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈstɪk.lə/ (UK)

Etymology

From Middle English stighteler, stytelere, equivalent to stickle + -er. The judges at Cornish wrestling matches do indeed carry sticks which serve for signalling and as a badge of their office. This practice has evolved from holding swords and then swordsticks.

Meanings

1. (Cornwall) A referee or adjudicator at a fight, wrestling match, duel, etc. who ensures fair play.
   • In ancient time they were wont to employ third persons as sticklers, to see no treachery or disorder were used, and to beare witnes of the combates successe. 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 27, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
   • Basilius, the judge, appointed sticklers and trumpets whom the others should obey. c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Second Booke] Chapter 1”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 105, recto:
   • Our former chiefs, like sticklers of the war, / First sought to inflame the parties, then to poise. 1658, John Dryden, Stanza to Oliver Cromwell:
2. Someone who insistently advocates for something, especially for strict observance of a formal rule.
   • The Tory or High-church were the greatest sticklers against the exorbitant proceedings of King James II. 1713, Jonathan Swift, A Preface to Bishop Burnet's Introduction:
   • Lexicographers are sticklers for correct language.
   • For the sticklers, here "final demand" is meant to include inventory investment. 2024, Jeremy B. Rudd, A Practical Guide to Macroeconomics, page 12:
   • "If you're accused of profiling or pretextual stops, you can bring your daily logbook to court and document that pulling over motorists for 'stickler' reasons is part of your customary pattern," Remsberg writes, "not a glaring exception conveniently dusted off in the defendant's case." 2019, Malcolm Gladwell, Talking to Strangers:

Forms

Deriveds

sticklerish · sticklerism

Relateds

stickle

Synonyms

traditionalist · dogmatist · formalist · pedant

Translations (28)

cs hnidopich (someone who insistently advocates for something) · hu szőröző (someone who insistently advocates for something) · ca perepunyetes (someone who insistently advocates for something) · el ψείρας (someone who insistently advocates for something) · hu szőrszálhasogató (someone who insistently advocates for something) · es pejiguero (someone who insistently advocates for something) · ru я́рый сторо́нник (someone who insistently advocates for something) · ru приве́рженец (someone who insistently advocates for something) · sh sitničavac (someone who insistently advocates for something) · es tiquismiquis (someone who insistently advocates for something) · nb pedant (someone who insistently advocates for something) · it pignolo (someone who insistently advocates for something) · hu kukacoskodó (someone who insistently advocates for something) · hu valamin lovagoló (ember) (someone who insistently advocates for something) · cs pedant (someone who insistently advocates for something) · es rigorista (someone who insistently advocates for something) · de Verfechter (someone who insistently advocates for something) · nb regelrytter (someone who insistently advocates for something) · pl pedantka (someone who insistently advocates for something) · sv pedant (someone who insistently advocates for something) · fr tatillon (someone who insistently advocates for something) · sh cjepidlaka (someone who insistently advocates for something) · de Pedant (someone who insistently advocates for something) · fr pointilleux (someone who insistently advocates for something) · pl pedant (someone who insistently advocates for something) · sh sitničar (someone who insistently advocates for something) · hu pedáns (someone who insistently advocates for something) · bg привърженик (someone who insistently advocates for something)