Old English sticca "rod, twig, spoon," from Proto-Germanic *stikkon- "pierce, prick" (cf. Old Norse stik, Old High German stehho, German Stecken "stick, staff"), from PIE *steig- "to stick; pointed" (see stick (v.)). Meaning "staff used in a game" is from 1670s (originally billiards); meaning "manual gearshift lever" first recorded 1914. Stick-ball is attested from 1824. Alliterative connection of sticks and stones is recorded from mid-15c.
Old English stician "to pierce, stab," also "to remain embedded, be fastened," from Proto-Germanic *stik- "pierce, prick, be sharp" (cf. Old Saxon stekan, Old Frisian steka, Dutch stecken, Old High German stehhan, German stechen "to stab, prick"), from PIE *steig- (cf. Latin in-stigare "to goad;" Greek stizein "to prick, puncture," stigma "mark made by a pointed instrument;" Old Persian tigra- "sharp, pointed;" Avestan tighri- "arrow;" Lithuanian stingu "to remain in place;" Russian stegati "to quilt").
Figurative sense of "to remain permanently in mind" is attested from c.1300. Transitive sense of "to fasten (something) in place" is attested from late 13c. Stick out "project" is recorded from 1560s. Slang stick around "remain" is from 1912; stick it as a rude bit of advice is first recorded 1922.
(Variations: like a sore thumb or a mile may be added) To be very conspicuous; stand out starkly: She really sticks out in that bunch/ Low profile? He sticks out like a sore thumb (entry form 1842+, sore thumb 1936+, mile 1933+)
To cheat; swindle; esp, to overcharge; shaft: runs the Bowie garage, routinely sticking what customers come his way (1699+)
Related Termsboom sticks, carry the stick, dipshit, dope stick, fire stick, get on the stick, gob-stick, have a broom up one's ass, jive stick, kick stick, know what one can do with something, make something stick, shitstick, swizzle-stick, tea-stick, tell someone what to do with something