Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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Sti(c)kle, Stickell, v. [e.m.E. styckyll (1530), stickle (1566), f. as Stichle v.] a. To strive to do (something); to contend, dispute, act disputatiously; to meddle.(1) 1629 Boyd Last B. 183.
While men are exalted, hardlie can they dreame of a change. Sathan is euer most busie to stickle and stricke the bargain betweene them and Death and Hell and all sort of disgrace 1669 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 421.
Ye are to walk warilie heirin and only to joyne with other burrowes if occasione requyre least if ye stickle much heirin ye may irretait and offend great persons 1669 Argyll-Lauderdale Lett. 98.
It is the creditouris and not the vassalls, that stickells 16… Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. Rec. IV 152.
[During the sermon … a shower of rain fell, and the people began] to stickle a little [and to gather their cloaks about them](2) 1658 Ancram & Loth. Corr. I cxxvi.
He stikled more than is ordinar to him, to have the young man out

b. tr. To act in a disputatious manner (with regard to a person), to involve (a person) in contention or dispute. 1680 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 241.
Ther being severall … heritores … concerned to keep this concessione ineffectuall they have from tyme to tyme stickled some particular persons of the Brughe so that ther hes not been hitherto so heartie a concurrence [etc.]

c. To stickle at or against, to dispute, refuse to accept, argue against (something). 1587 Chambers Domestic Annals Scotl. I 184.
Huntly was induced to profess an inclination to comply, but professed to stickle at some of the Protestant doctrines 1658 Dingwall Presb. 300.
Mr. John M^ccra stickled against the resolution, and becam pertenacious and werie loquacious