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You are here: Home / Language / Where Did the Word “Stickler” For a Perfectionist Come From and What Does the Term Mean?

Where Did the Word “Stickler” For a Perfectionist Come From and What Does the Term Mean?

June 5, 2020 by Karen Hill

The word stickler is from the Middle English word “stightlen” and means “to arrange.”

A stickler is a person who does everything by the book.

Historically, the stickler was the title of a judge at a duel.

Within life and death circumstances he was entrusted to see that the laws of gentlemanly combat were followed to the letter and that the outcome was fair.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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