Stiff.  1.  A  bill  of  exchange,  nego-
tiable paper,  thick  (q.v.) :  to  take  (or
give)  the  stiff,  to  receive  (or  pay)  in
paper ;  to  do  a  bit  of  stiff,  to  accept  a
bill.  2.  Forged  bank  notes.  3.  A
corpse :  also  stiff  one  (1785).  4.  A
horse  certain  not  to  win,  nor  if
it  run,  to  win :  also  Dead-'un,  Safe-
'up,  Stumer,  etc.  (q.v.) ;  bookmaker's
stiff,  a  horse  nobbled  at  the  public


cost  in  the  bookmaker's  interest ;  also
as  adj.  (Australian),  dead  certain  to
win ;  e.g.  Grand  Flaneur  is  stiff  for
any  race  for  which  he  may  enter.  6.
A  clandestine  letter.  As  adj.  and
adv.,  a  general  intensive :  cf.  Steep,
Tall,  Wide,  etc.  :  thus  a  stiff  (a  strong
or  long)  drink;  a  stiff  (a  cramped)
style ;  a  stiff  (formal)  manner :  also
crusty,  whence  to  cut  up  stiff,  to  turn
testy ;  a  stiff  (strong  and  steady)
breeze ;  stiff  (incredible)  news ;  a  stiff
(difficult)  examination ;  a  stiff  (high)
price  :  cf.  Steep :  also,  a  price  (or  a
market)  stiffens,  goes  higher :  to  pay
stiffly,  to  pay  expensively ;  a  stiff
(firm,  unyielding)  market ;  a  stiff  upper
lip,  courageous ;  to  cut  up  stiff,  to
leave  a  large  estate :  cf.  Warm  and
supra  (1608).
Stiffler.     See  Stickler.
Stiff-fencer.  A  hawker  of  writing
paper.
Stiff -rumped.  Proud,  stately
(B.  E.).
Stiffy.  A  well-dressed  conceited
boy.
Stifler.  1.  The  gallows:  also
stifles :  see  Ladder  and  Nubbing-cheat ;
hence  to  nab  the  stifler,  to  be  hanged  ;
to  queer  the  stifler,  to  escape  the  rope
(1818).  2.  A  busybody.  3.  A  severe
blow.
Stigmatic.  ( 1 )  A  branded  criminal ;
(2)  any  one  deformed ;  and  (3)  a
contemptible  wretch  (1598).
