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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.
Earl:
Already got one stuck in my finger.

- A paper or bumper sticker (noun)

Mae:
Teacher give me a smiley-face sticker.
Earl:
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."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Is a "sticker" the same as a thorn?
Yes - in mountain talk, any sharp prickle on a plant is a "sticker."
What about bumper stickers?
Same word - context makes it clear.
Is "sticker" unique to Appalachia?
The paper sense is everywhere. The thorn sense is strongly Southern/Appalachian.
Do people still say it today?
Absolutely - kids and grownups alike use "sticker" for both thorns and labels.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 27). Sticker. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Sticker." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Sticker." HillbillySlang.com. August 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/sticker.
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