Sticker
In Appalachian and Southern speech, a "sticker" can mean two things: the sharp thorn or prickle on a plant, or a literal paper or bumper sticker. The same plain word covers both.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
When we take a walk in the summer, I always have to tell the young'uns 'watch out for those stickers.' Everybody local uses this term. Hillbilly Dude Says...
When we take a walk in the summer, I always have to tell the young'uns 'watch out for those stickers.' Everybody local uses this term. Pronunciation
[STIK-ur]
Meaning & Usage
- A thorn or prickle on a plant (noun)
Mae:
Careful - them stickers will tear your britches.
Careful - them stickers will tear your britches.
Earl:
Already got one stuck in my finger.
Already got one stuck in my finger.- A paper or bumper sticker (noun)
Mae:
Teacher give me a smiley-face sticker.
Teacher give me a smiley-face sticker.
Earl:
Don’t put it on the wall, Mama’ll fuss.
Don’t put it on the wall, Mama’ll fuss.variations: thorn, prickle, briar, paper sticker, bumper sticker, label
★ "Sticker" is a catch-all hillbilly word - it can mean the thorn that sticks ya or the label you stick on something. Context tells you which one’s meant. ★
Origin and Etymology
From "stick," meaning to pierce or to attach. The sense of "thorn" comes from what sticks in your skin, while the paper sense comes from what you stick onto a surface. Both developed naturally in everyday speech.
Usage Notes
Common in Appalachian and Southern families. Kids grow up hearing about "stickers" in the yard and "stickers" on their schoolwork, without needing to separate the two meanings.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said quick: "stik-ur." Plural: "stickers."