Middle English Dictionary Entry
stikel adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | stikel adj. Also stikil, (early) sticol & (in place names) stikele-, stikile-, stikle-, sticl-, stekil-, (infl.) stikelen-, stikelin(g)-, stickelin-. |
| Etymology | OE sticol |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Steep; difficult of access; (b) harsh, severe; (c) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.152].
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)129/15 : Se weig is sticol & neare þe to þan ecen life belimpð.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)9/17 : Se wei is rum & forðheald þe to deaðe and to hellewite let, & se is nearu & sticol þe to life & to heofena rice læt.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)186 : If a man schulde clymbe vpon a stikil hil..and if he fil from þe hil he schulde falle into water and be dreynt, [etc.].
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)62 : The place where sche lay yn was so stykel and so streyt and so dangerous to come to that vnnethe eny mannys mynde myght ymagyne how hyt myght be doo.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)5848 : Ryght will armed was thys noble knight, A good swerd of stile in his hand holdyng, Thys mont toke, narew and stikell to sight.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4186 : Vnneth his prayer was past quen purid all þe cloudis, And stint was all þe stikill stormes in a stand-quile.
c
- (1194) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames333 : Stephen Stikel.
- (1203) in Ekwall Dict.EPN500 : Winterburn Stikellane.
- (1244) in Ekwall Dict.EPN500 : Stikelan.
- (1280) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)166 : Stikelepethe.
- (c1280) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)27 : Styklepeth.
- (1294) EPNSoc.18 (Mid.)34 : Stickelyndon.
- (1309) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)166 : Stikilpath.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3113 : Willelmus atte Sticlegh.
- (1331) EPNSoc.18 (Mid.)34 : Stikelynton.
- (1373) EPNSoc.18 (Mid.)34 : Stikelingdon.
- (1395) EPNSoc.18 (Mid.)34 : Stekyldon.
- (1396) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)166 : Stikilepath.
- (1399) EPNSoc.18 (Mid.)34 : Stikelendon.