stickle

verb

stick·​le ˈsti-kəl 

stickled; stickling ˈsti-k(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to contend especially stubbornly and usually on insufficient grounds

2

: to feel scruples : scruple

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English stightlen, frequentative of stighten to arrange, from Old English stihtan; akin to Old Norse stētta to found, support

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1