† stightle, v. Obs.
Forms: 4 stiȝ-, styȝtle, -tel, (stighle, stigle, stichle), 4–5 stiȝtil(l, stightill, -tel, stigh-, styghtle, styghtylle, (stighill, stihle, stihȝle, stiȝle, stithle, stithil). See also stickle v.
[ME. stiȝtle, frequentative f. stiȝte stight v.]
1. trans. To dispose, arrange, set in order; to prepare, make ready; to control, rule, govern; to direct (a helm or rudder); to ordain, assign, appoint; to set or establish (in a place or position).
| a 1300 Cursor M. 19425 (Edin.) Steuin stichlid him al bune, and þan bigan a grete sarmun. Ibid. 22093 Riȝt sua [sa]le þe fend him þisse Chesin stede of birþe I wisse Þate beste es stiglid [Gött. stighlid, Cott. titeld] til his stalle. c 1350 Will. Palerne 1199 Þat oþer was his stiward þat stiȝtled al his meyne. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 402 If we..stylle steppen in þe styȝe he [God] styȝtlez hym seluen. a 1400 Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. xxix. iv. 20 Alle þe Iewes bi hemselue Were stihlet to wone in a strete. a 1400–50 Wars Alex. 589 Lat him as ayre..enherit my landis, And stall we him in stede of þis to stiȝtill my rewme. c 1400 Destr. Troy 13282 Nowthir stightill þai stere, ne no stithe ropes. |
| absol. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xvi. 40 Reson stod and stihlede as for stywarde of halle. |
b. With hostile notion: To ‘dispose of‘, put down (an antagonist).
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 2899 Þe stoutest & þe sternest he stiȝtled sone after, Þat he garte þe grettest to hire prison louȝ te. c 1400 Destr. Troy 2193 All þe Renkes of my rewme will þi red folowe, As storest of strenght to stightill thy foose. |
2. intr. To bestir or exert oneself, put forth one's strength or energy; to strive, contend, fight.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 3281 Moche folk him folwed þat ferli to bi-hold, how sternli he & þe [stede] schold stiȝtli to-gadere. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 104 Þer-fore of face so fere, He stiȝtlez stif in stalle. c 1450 Merlin xx. 333 And so haue thei medled and styghtled till they haue founde the kynge Boors vpon foote. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 460 Schipmen our the streme thai stithil full straught. |
3. ? To intervene as mediator or umpire.
| c 1440 York Myst. xxxi. 75 Rex. What! and schall I rise nowe, in þe deuyllis name? To stighill amang straungeres in stales of a state. |
Hence
† ˈstightling vbl. n.| c 1400 Destr. Troy 1997 Was no stightlyng with stere, ne no stithe ropes. c 1450 Merlin xxii. 408 Gawein..made soche stightlynge a-monge hem that alle dide resorte bakke wheder thei wolde or noon. |