Origin and history of stymie

1857, in golf, "put a player in the position where an opponent's ball is directly in the line of approach to the hole;" from stymie (n.) "condition in which an opponent's ball blocks the line of approach to the hole" (1834). It is of uncertain origin, perhaps from Scottish stymie "person who sees poorly," from stime "the least bit" (early 14c.), as in unable to see a stime, itself of uncertain origin. The general sense of "block, hinder, thwart" is by 1902. Related: Stymied.