stick

Fungi growing on a stick of wood

Meanings

An elongated piece of wood or similar material, typically put to some use, for example as a wand or baton.
Any roughly cylindrical (or rectangular) unit of a substance.
Material or objects attached to a stick or the like.
A tool, control, or instrument shaped somewhat like a stick.
A stick-like item:
Ability; specifically:
A person or group of people.
Encouragement or punishment, or (resulting) vigour or other improved behavior.
A measure.
The traction of tires on the road surface.
The amount of fishing line resting on the water surface before a cast; line stick.
A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab.
Criticism or ridicule.

To cut a piece of wood to be the stick member of a cope-and-stick joint.
To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick.
To furnish or set with sticks.
To become or remain attached; to adhere.
To jam; to stop moving.
To tolerate, to endure, to stick with.
To persist.
Of snow, to remain frozen on landing.
To remain loyal; to remain firm.
To hesitate, to be reluctant; to refuse (in negative phrases).
To be puzzled (at something), have difficulty understanding.
To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.
To attach with glue or as if by gluing.
To place, set down (quickly or carelessly).
To press (something with a sharp point) into something else.
To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale.
To adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing.
To perform (a landing) perfectly.
To propagate plants by cuttings.
To run or plane (mouldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such mouldings are said to be stuck.
To bring to a halt; to stymie; to puzzle.
To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat.
To stand pat: to cease taking any more cards and finalize one's hand.

From Middle English stikke ("stick, rod, twig"), from Old English sticca ("rod, twig"), from Proto-Germanic *stikkô, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg-. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Stikke ("stick"), West Flemish stik ("stick").
From Middle English stiken, from Old English stician, from Proto-Germanic *stikōną (compare also the related Proto-Germanic *stikaną, whence West Frisian stekke, Low German steken, Dutch steken, German stechen; compare also Danish stikke, Swedish sticka), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tig-, *(s)teyg-.
Cognate with the first etymology (same PIE root, different paths through Germanic and Old English), to stitch, and to etiquette, via French étiquette – see there for further discussion.
Possibly a metaphorical use of the first etymology ("twig, branch"), possibly derived from the Yiddish schtick.

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