Etymology

stickler

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Today it means: A referee or adjudicator at a fight, wrestling match, duel, etc. who ensures fair play. Full definition →

First used 16th c.Middle English stighteler
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The story

  1. Middle English · inherited fromstighteler
  2. English todaystickler

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.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 16th c. A referee or adjudicator at a fight, wrestling match, duel, etc. who ensures fair play.
  • from 17th c. Someone who insistently advocates for something, especially for strict observance of a formal rule.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.