n. 1 a a short slender branch or length of wood broken or cut from a tree. b this trimmed for use as a support or weapon. 2 a thin rod or spike of wood etc. for a particular purpose (cocktail stick). 3 a an implement used to propel the ball in hockey or polo etc. b (in pl.) the raising of the stick above the shoulder in hockey. 4 a gear lever. 5 a conductor's baton. 6 a a slender piece of a thing, e.g. celery, dynamite, deodorant, etc. b a number of bombs or paratroops released rapidly from aircraft. 7 (often prec. by the) punishment, esp. by beating. 8 colloq. adverse criticism; censure, reproof (took a lot of stick). 9 colloq. a piece of wood as part of a house or furniture (a few sticks of furniture). 10 colloq. a person, esp. one who is dull or unsociable (a funny old stick). 11 (in pl.; prec. by the) colloq. remote rural areas. 12 (in pl.) Austral. sl. goalposts. 13 Naut. sl. a mast or spar. stick insect any usu. wingless female insect of the family Phasmidae with a twiglike body. up sticks colloq. go to live elsewhere. stickless adj. sticklike adj.
[ OE sticca f. WG ]