adjective pointed, sharp pungent, acrid; fig. “sharp,” clever, cunning, acute (in this meaning only in contr. form tikkha) Ja.v.264; Dhp-a.ii.9; Dhp-a.iv.13; Pv-a.152, Pv-a.221 (= tippa). (ati-tikhinatā Mil.278. See also tippa & tibba & cp. tejo.

Vedic tīkṣṇa of which t. is the diaeretic form, whereas the contracted forms are tiṇha (q.v. & tikkha. Cp. also Sk. tikta pp. of; tij, tejate. From *steg in Gr. στίζω “stitch” & στικτός, Lat. instīgo Ohg. stehhan, Ger. stecken, E. stick