stickler

See also: Stickler

English

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstɪk.lə/

Noun

stickler (plural sticklers)

1. (now only Cornwall) A referee or adjudicator at a fight, wrestling match, duel, etc. who ensures fair play. [from 16th c.]
   • Template:RQ:Florio Montaigne Essayes
   • Sir Philip Sidney

     Basilius, the judge, appointed sticklers and trumpets whom the others should obey.

   • Dryden

     Our former chiefs, like sticklers of the war, / First sought to inflame the parties, then to poise.

2. Someone who insistently advocates for something. [from 17th c.]

   Synonyms: dogmatist, formalist, pedant, traditionalist

   Lexicographers are sticklers for correct language.

   • Jonathan Swift

     The Tory or High-church were the greatest sticklers against the exorbitant proceedings of King James II.

Related terms

• stickle

Translations

someone who insistently advocates for something

• Czech: hnidopich (cs) m, pedant m
• French: tatillon (fr), pointilleux (fr)
• German: Pedant (de), Verfechter m
• Greek: ψείρας (el) m (pseíras)
• Italian: pignolo (it) m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: pedant (no) m, regelrytter m

• Russian: приве́рженец (ru) m (privérženec), я́рый сторо́нник m (járyj storónnik)
• Serbo-Croatian: sitničar (sh) m, cjepidlaka (sh) m, sitničavac (sh) m

Anagrams

• strickle, ticklers, trickles