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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STICKAMSTAM, n. Also stickum-. The supposed name of a coin of the least possible value, said by Jam. to be a half-penny Scots, or the twenty-fourth part of an English penny, but there is no evidence for this. Used in phr. no worth a stickamstam, of no value whatever, worthless (w.Lth. 1825 Jam.). The usage in the quot. below is a liter. adaptation from Jam.s.Sc. 1898 E. Hamilton Mawkin xv.:
The fellow wouldna be worth a stickamstan [sic.]

[Orig. obscure. Poss. an adaptation of stick-and-stow s.v. Stick, n.2, (3).]

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