Wiktionary
n. 1 A fault in a digital circuit, where a signal does not change as expected, but remains always in one state. 2 A bit in an inode indicating that an executable program should be kept in memory after it terminates.
Wikipedia
In computing, the sticky bit is a user ownership access right flag that can be assigned to files and directories on Unix-like systems.
When a directory's sticky bit is set, the filesystem treats the files in such directories in a special way so only the file's owner, the directory's owner, or root user can rename or delete the file. Without the sticky bit set, any user with write and execute permissions for the directory can rename or delete contained files, regardless of the file's owner. Typically this is set on the /tmp directory to prevent ordinary users from deleting or moving other users' files.
The modern function of the sticky bit was introduced in 4.3BSD in 1986, and is found in most modern Unix-like systems.
Usage examples of "sticky bit".
Another thing which had always annoyed him was the way his concentration tended to waver when he came to a sticky bit.
The sticky bit would be to catch one of Cecily's fertilized ova before it could reach her uterus and put the captured ovum into the equally stimulated uterus of her sister-in-law.
But I've got to this sticky bit in the plot and I don't know where to take it next and I thought that if I asked you what you might do if it was in real life, well, that would give it an extra touch of authenticity.
Now, all Qwilleran had to do was to compose this tricky, sticky bit of fiction.