Stick, a derogatory expression for a person; “a rum, or odd, STICK,” a curious man. More generally a “poor STICK.”—Provincial.
Stick, “cut your STICK,” be off, or go away; either simply equivalent to a recommendation to prepare a walking staff in readiness for a journey—in allusion to the Eastern custom of cutting a STICK before setting out—or from the ancient mode of reckoning by notches or tallies on a STICK. In Cornwall the peasantry tally sheaves of corn by cuts in a STICK, reckoning by the score. “Cut your STICK” in this sense may mean to make your mark and pass on—and so realize the meaning of the phrase, “in the nick (or notch) of time.” Sir J. Emerson Tennent considers the phrase equivalent to “cutting the connexion,” and suggests a possible origin in the prophet’s breaking the staves of “Beauty” and “Bands,”—vide Zech. xi. 10, 14.
Stick, to cheat; “he got STUCK,” he was taken in; “I’m STUCK,” a common phrase to express that the speaker has spent or lost all his money, and can neither play nor pay any longer. Stick, to forget one’s part in a performance.—Theatrical. Stick up, to place in an account; “STICK it up to me,” i.e., give me credit for it; STICK on, to overcharge or defraud; STICK up for, to defend a person, especially when slandered in his absence; STICK up to, to persevere in courting or attacking, whether in fisticuffs or argument; “to STICK in one’s gizzard,” to rankle in one’s heart; “to STICK to a person,” to adhere to one, to be his friend through adverse circumstances,—to “cotton” to him; “to STICK one’s spoon in the wall,” to die.
Stick-up, to keep any one waiting at an appointed place or time. To leave a friend or acquaintance to pay the whole or an undue share of a tavern bill.
Stick-ups, or GILLS, shirt collars.
Sticker, one not likely to be easily shaken off, a stayer.
Stickings, coarse, bruised, or damaged meat sold to sausage-makers and penny pie-shops.
Sticks, furniture, or household chattels; “pick up your STICKS and cut!” summary advice to a person to take himself and furniture away.
Sticky, wax.
Stiff, paper, a bill of acceptance, &c.; “how did you get it, STIFF or hard?” i.e., did he pay you cash or give a bill? “To do a bit of STIFF,” to accept a bill. See [KITE].